Already failing...

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CollegeGirl94 said:
but like to solve. I read the problem and have no clue what to do.
Click to expand...

Physics is about algorithms.

1. Write down everything you know from the problem.
2. Draw the problem if applicable. Hint: its basically always applicable.
3. Write down "relevant" equations. Meaning the core relationships from the chapter. Relationships like F=ma, a = dv/dt, |F| = qvBcos(theta) - it all depends on the unit, the chapter, and the problem. This is the key step. Physics problems generally involve a very long "hmm" period followed by a "A-ha!" Moment where you understand the key concept behind the problem and then finally a very short period of actually doing the mechanical work to get the answer.

It is very important to master step 3. The faster and more effortlessly you can recognize the crux of a problem the better physics will be for you.

There are two ways to master this:

Know so much about physics it is natural to you.

Do a lot of problems.

The great thing is that the end result in either case is identical: good grades.



But yah, if you are overwhelmed drop a class and maintain that upward trend.
 
Lucca said:
Physics is about algorithms.

1. Write down everything you know from the problem.
2. Draw the problem if applicable. Hint: its basically always applicable.
3. Write down "relevant" equations. Meaning the core relationships from the chapter. Relationships like F=ma, a = dv/dt, |F| = qvBcos(theta) - it all depends on the unit, the chapter, and the problem. This is the key step. Physics problems generally involve a very long "hmm" period followed by a "A-ha!" Moment where you understand the key concept behind the problem and then finally a very short period of actually doing the mechanical work to get the answer.

It is very important to master step 3. The faster and more effortlessly you can recognize the crux of a problem the better physics will be for you.

There are two ways to master this:

Know so much about physics it is natural to you.

Do a lot of problems.

The great thing is that the end result in either case is identical: good grades.



But yah, if you are overwhelmed drop a class and maintain that upward trend.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips! I will try it out tonight. 😀
 
Agent B said:
So you didn't understand the concepts... yeah there's the problem.
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I don't know. After a year of Honors Physics, AP Physics, and now this, I would hope I knew this stuff by now...
 
CollegeGirl94 said:
If it brings back memories, WHY on earth four? hahaha
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I am an engineer, so I had to take at least 4 semesters of physics. Also, understanding the concept really helps a lot. I know this is a cliche, but you will be surprised how many people try to memorize how to do a particular type of problem. So when they encounter a new problem that they haven't seen before, they panic and don't know where to start.
 
CollegeGirl94 said:
:laugh: I'm hopeless.
Click to expand...

I really really struggled in school after two bad semesters of academic probation (parental/money issues) and I felt overwhelmed. What helped me is to have a completely clear and happy mind. I was so anxious on doing good that I would fall into disparity.

So what I would do is walk away from the problems and do something fun. Pipe yourself up by thinking about happy things. It did wonders for me to just walk away until I was feeling positive. I went from studying 10 hours and not grasping anything to studying 4 hours and only getting one or two points off the exam.

Gotta believe in yourself.
 
I looked at the course catalog for a med school I was accepted at. 100+ credits a semester. If you can't handle 3.5 classes, you're in trouble.
 
Have you considered buying a study guide or text solution manual. The textbook for my physics course last semester was incomprehensible, the textbook's goal was to teach an individual how to think like an engineer.

Here's a resource I wish I found sooner!

http://iweb.tntech.edu/murdock/books.html
 
You're overloaded. If it's the second day of class and you feel like you're going to explode from information or die from a lack of understanding, you clearly need more time to process everything. People learn at different rates. I go to a quarter system school too and have learned how to deal with how quick things pass by. I forced myself to learn quickly by taking a lot of classes and doing a lot of extracurriculars. If this is your first "overloaded" quarter, consider sucking it up and see what happens.
 
If you're having trouble understanding the concepts, use outside sources (other books, websites, etc) that may present them in a way that you understand better. If your university has a tutoring center, try and find the time to go and get help. Is there another course you could take this quarter, that you were planning to take next year? See if there's anyway you could switch, if you really think that you can't handle physics with everything else this quarter. You may also want to consider dropping one of your "easier" courses if you want to take a lighter credit load. I know you said they won't be difficult, but they'd still be time-consuming. The more time you have to study, practice problems, and attempt to understand the more difficult concepts in physics, the better. And these courses may be easier for you (I don't know what the scheduling is like at your university) to move to a different quarter.

The good thing is, you're looking into your options early on, when there are many. I always feel slightly bad for students who come in right after the uncontested withdraw deadline and want to drop their class ...

Good luck this quarter, with whatever you decide to do!
 
ommnomm said:
I looked at the course catalog for a med school I was accepted at. 100+ credits a semester. If you can't handle 3.5 classes, you're in trouble.
Click to expand...
4.67, you clearly never went to a quarter system school. Our classes are 8 weeks long (+ finals + reading week).
I don't know what those credits mean. Over here it would be 100 classes lol.
What we learn is way faster than semester schools, which is why 5 is overloading and 3-4 is normal and still stressful for most.
We learn some courses in 1/2 the time semester schools do.

And I'm having trouble with the material.
 
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Meridius said:
If you're having trouble understanding the concepts, use outside sources (other books, websites, etc) that may present them in a way that you understand better. If your university has a tutoring center, try and find the time to go and get help. Is there another course you could take this quarter, that you were planning to take next year? See if there's anyway you could switch, if you really think that you can't handle physics with everything else this quarter. You may also want to consider dropping one of your "easier" courses if you want to take a lighter credit load. I know you said they won't be difficult, but they'd still be time-consuming. The more time you have to study, practice problems, and attempt to understand the more difficult concepts in physics, the better. And these courses may be easier for you (I don't know what the scheduling is like at your university) to move to a different quarter.

The good thing is, you're looking into your options early on, when there are many. I always feel slightly bad for students who come in right after the uncontested withdraw deadline and want to drop their class ...

Good luck this quarter, with whatever you decide to do!
Click to expand...
Thank you and yes, but I really should get Physics done now. This isn't my "hardest" schedule by far and unless I want Physics 3 during Orgo 3, I shouldn't switch it out.

I feel like I'll always struggle with Physics, whether in a year or not. My Calc, Bio, and Span work is very minimal, I have lots of time to work on Physics. I just need to work as hard as possible and hope for the best. 🙁
 
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Shirafune said:
You're overloaded. If it's the second day of class and you feel like you're going to explode from information or die from a lack of understanding, you clearly need more time to process everything. People learn at different rates. I go to a quarter system school too and have learned how to deal with how quick things pass by. I forced myself to learn quickly by taking a lot of classes and doing a lot of extracurriculars. If this is your first "overloaded" quarter, consider sucking it up and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Timing isn't an issue, YET. It might be because of how much I'm struggling though.
 
A lot of the time it is best to do physics multi var calc etc in a group of your friends. The homework is made intentionally harder than exams usually to get you to really think and understand the underlying concepts. Struggling through a problem for two hours usually isn't as worthwhile when you can get it done in twenty minutes with friends and understand it after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
 
CollegeGirl94 said:
Physics - ^ and prof. expecting us to have already taken Multivariable so he's skipping chapters, homework killed me (spent an hour on a easy problem I still don't get).
Click to expand...

Is it an online homework which is making it difficult? Also which section you guys are on? I am also in Phys with calc and got an exam on Magnetism tomorrow.
 
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