Any tips for Physics?

[Stumpyman]

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Not too much came up in the search 🙁 .

Anyone have any advice for physics? What's a good supplement book for algebra-based physics 1?

Lastly, what math topics would you suggest to brush over before starting the course?

Thanks, I've dreaded this course since my first semester.

 

[911 Turbo]

Not too much came up in the search 🙁 .

Anyone have any advice for physics? What's a good supplement book for algebra-based physics 1?

Lastly, what math topics would you suggest to brush over before starting the course?

Thanks, I've dreaded this course since my first semester.

Algebra based physics .... Algebra and trig

 

[TipToad]

Why aren't you taking calculus-based physics?

 

[Don15]

Why aren't you taking calculus-based physics?

that would be idiotic. why take something harder when it is not required? I took algebra based physics and got into med school just fine

 

[Stumpyman]

Why aren't you taking calculus-based physics?

Cause it's not required for my major, nor anything else really. Why does it matter?

 

[TipToad]

I ask because I think it just makes more sense to take calc-based physics. I mean, physics and calculus go hand-in-hand. Calc-based allowed me to understand physics much better than my friends who took alg-based.

 

[uga1990]

Take algebra based physics. It is what you need for the mcat. I thought physics were the 2 hardest classes I had to take, but I did not take it in high school.

 

[TipToad]

Anywho, my biggest tip for physics is to understand why a concept works the way it does. Your understanding of physics should transcend math. Sometimes review books focus too much on problem solving on not on conceptual ideas.

 

[BigBlueBear]

I ask because I think it just makes more sense to take calc-based physics. I mean, physics and calculus go hand-in-hand. Calc-based allowed me to understand physics much better than my friends who took alg-based.

I took alg-based physics in high school. Learned it 100x better than when I took the required calc-based courses in college. To each his own, I guess.

 

[Cambino]

I ask because I think it just makes more sense to take calc-based physics. I mean, physics and calculus go hand-in-hand. Calc-based allowed me to understand physics much better than my friends who took alg-based.

Then YOU can take calc-based.

OP - do every practice problem in the back of the book, then find more. Understand why and when each equation is being applied to the problem you're solving, and understand their limitations.

Newton's Laws and Laws of Thermodynamic will solve 90% of your problems; the issue is, however, is that many students can't rearrange the information given to you in a problem in a way that is in accordance with these laws. The only surefire way to be able to do this is practice practice practice. There's no substitute for hard work.

 

[BigBlueBear]

Then YOU can take calc-based.

OP - do every practice problem in the back of the book, then find more. Understand why and when each equation is being applied to the problem you're solving, and understand their limitations.

Newton's Laws and Laws of Thermodynamic will solve 90% of your problems; the issue is, however, is that many students can't rearrange the information given to you in a problem in a way that is in accordance with these laws. The only surefire way to be able to do this is practice practice practice. There's no substitute for hard work.

😕

 

[Josh7]

Algebra based physics is extremely elementary... Just do practice problems and the course will be easy.

 

[Cambino]

😕

You must be one of those students.

OP - this is why it's crucial you understand conceptually when and why equations are being applied, similarly to what other posters have suggested.

EDIT: The Laws will solve most of the problems in Physics 1*

 

[lobo.solo]

Anywho, my biggest tip for physics is to understand why a concept works the way it does. Your understanding of physics should transcend math. Sometimes review books focus too much on problem solving on not on conceptual ideas.

This ^. The challenge in physics is to be able to extract the necessary info from word problems, so that you can solve the problem. That's why your conceptual understanding of the material has to be strong. Review trig and algebra. Good luck.

 

[ben kenobi]

Then YOU can take calc-based.

OP - do every practice problem in the back of the book, then find more. Understand why and when each equation is being applied to the problem you're solving, and understand their limitations.

Newton's Laws and Laws of Thermodynamic will solve 90% of your problems; the issue is, however, is that many students can't rearrange the information given to you in a problem in a way that is in accordance with these laws. The only surefire way to be able to do this is practice practice practice. There's no substitute for hard work.

This. You HAVE to do practice problems, as many as possible. My mistake with physics 1 was thinking that I was fine just reading the book and looking over example problems. You have to DO the problems and understand them, and you will be fine.

 

[BigBlueBear]

You must be one of those students.

OP - this is why it's crucial you understand conceptually when and why equations are being applied, similarly to what other posters have suggested.

EDIT: The Laws will solve most of the problems in Physics 1*

What does this mean? XD

 

[TipToad]

I would just like to point out that Physics class physics and MCAT physics are pretty different.

 

[Stumpyman]

Thanks all. So it seems like the math in it isn't all that bad (although I'll probably review some trig, as I forgot all of it). Definitely will do plenty of practice problems, as well as try to learn the concepts fairly well.

 

[hizziaips]

Not too much came up in the search 🙁 .

Anyone have any advice for physics? What's a good supplement book for algebra-based physics 1?

Lastly, what math topics would you suggest to brush over before starting the course?

Thanks, I've dreaded this course since my first semester.

1. Be comfortable with both basic trigonometry and vectors.

2. Be methodical and organized in your problem-solving approach. Diagrams are your friend! Label everything of relevance -- forces, lenses, circuit components, torques, etc. Write down the relevant equations and work through them, in discrete steps from beginning to end. This may be tedious, but doing so will help you understand the concepts and avoid making mistakes.

3. As others have said, work to understand the concepts. Most physics books have a set of conceptual questions at the end of each chapter. Think about these questions, even if they are not assigned.

4. MIT (OpenCourseware, freely-available) has an excellent lecture series in intro physics given by Prof. Walter Lewin. He does use a bit of calculus, but he also employs lots of mini-experiments to illustrate the concepts. These videos may or may not be useful supplements to your regular course lectures.

 

[Iso4ane]

Thanks all. So it seems like the math in it isn't all that bad (although I'll probably review some trig, as I forgot all of it). Definitely will do plenty of practice problems, as well as try to learn the concepts fairly well.

Also when you talking about kinematic stuff, do miniature demos with billiard balls or something so you get a feel for it.

 

[LaughingMan]

I tutored Physics.

My advise is to know what exactly is going on WITH the formulas. Don't just memorize then--but understand why those values go into those places and how they relate.

and always always always keep your forces in order. Get in the habit of drawing an accurate picture which can properly display all forces acting on an object.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Take algebra based physics. It is what you need for the mcat. I thought physics were the 2 hardest classes I had to take, but I did not take it in high school.

I was just in this same boat. Physics I is easy if you can do basic algebra. Physics II is EVIL.

 

[JESSFALLING]

This. You HAVE to do practice problems, as many as possible. My mistake with physics 1 was thinking that I was fine just reading the book and looking over example problems. You have to DO the problems and understand them, and you will be fine.

I probably worked about 50-75 problems in Physics 1 and I did very well (though I absolutely agree that more problems would have made exams less stressful). The key is finding high-yield problems that force you to integrate ideas broadly, which verifies understanding of the concepts vs. algorithmic solution memorization! Understanding the concepts is key if you want to learn physics well!

OP, I do recommend that you make sure your algebra and trig skills are strong prior to taking physics. I'd recommend working through the khanacademy trigonometry series, for starters. If that seems easy then you're probably in good shape. I also found that working through the khanacademy physics videos helped some while taking the course....there are some really good problems on there around the middle of the series. I felt like a whiz with energy conservation after watching Sal's videos on it.........I was like "face palm"....I can solve all these darn projectile motion problems with energy!

And, regarding the 'calc-based physics' debate: Take the easier class for the 'A', and self-study the rest on your own if you're interested. Yale and MIT both have excellent calc-based physics video lecture series available for free.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

Get a geometry textbook, understand how angles are equal to other angles. That's step one.

Then spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to use Newton's third law correctly. It's not so straightforward.

Really a lot of solving physics problems is concept recognition. You need to work a lot of problems and struggle with them until your brain intuitively builds an auto recognition mechanism.

 

[Larry_David]

I finished Physics 1 already and Physics 2 ends this Friday. Took them both this summer, six weeks each, with labs, and I couldn't imagine it being drawn out over 2 real semesters. Incredibly simple stuff. Our prof gave about 10 problems per chapter for homework because "math is for engineers." 😀

Algebra based = Easy A

 

[mdambitions]

I just finished Physics 1 and 2 and was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed the class, despite both sections being crunched into 12 weeks. My advice echos alot of what's said above. I'm not a "math" person, and it had been 12 years since I took algebra. I never took trig, just saw a little bit of it in precalculus, which was about 4 years ago.

To succeed in the class, I would first read the chapter and try to understand the formulas and units. I spent alot of time focusing on how the units canceled through the equations, and what the resulting unit represented. The relationships betwen variables were very important for my comprehension.

Then, once I felt like I could explain the formula conceptually, I'd solve problems until I honestly couldn't focus anymore. I think we had a decent textbook and my excellent teachers were always available to answer questions. I had a lot of questions... I still loathe masteringphysics. -_-

I wouldn't spend too much time reviewing trig or geometry. I tried, and found that the teachers explained things well enough on their own and with much better concision. SOH CAH TOA, is all you really need anyways.

At my school, trig-based physics is the class that future nurses, doctors, and therapists take. Most of us aren't terribly comfortable with high-level math. The professors understand that. With the right effort, there is no reason this class can't be an easy A for you. Goodluck!

 

[zeppelinpage4]

that would be idiotic. why take something harder when it is not required? I took algebra based physics and got into med school just fine

Physics seemed to make more sense with the calculus for me. It wasn't that much harder than the algebra based physics classes at my school, of course I am sure this varies greatly by institution.

 

[Iso4ane]

Physics seemed to make more sense with the calculus for me. It wasn't that much harder than the algebra based physics classes at my school, of course I am sure this varies greatly by institution.

Well, when you take it with calculus you don't have to remember as much, and can derive everything, almost, on the fly.

 

[Neurosis]

that would be idiotic. why take something harder when it is not required? I took algebra based physics and got into med school just fine

Well honestly the only reason I'm opting to take the calculus based physics instead of the algebra based course is because the latter is filled to the brim with pre-meds. I just didn't want to put myself in a stressful/ultra-competitive environment (outside the other prerequisites) if I could help it.
I also heard the algebra based physics is more plug and chug and doesn't really do the science justice. That's what my future professor said anyway...

 

[kpcrew]

Well, when you take it with calculus you don't have to remember as much, and can derive everything, almost, on the fly.

This doesn't help very much in test situations when you have limited time to answer questions.

 

[grapepopsicle]

Mechanics
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-1999/video-lectures/

Electricity & Magnetism
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02-electricity-and-magnetism-spring-2002/video-lectures/

Voila.

No seriously, this guy's good. It's calc-based, but even if you only took/are taking alg-based, these lectures really help you understand the concepts.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Well, when you take it with calculus you don't have to remember as much, and can derive everything, almost, on the fly.

👍 Very well put, that's how it was for me. The calc-based classes could be considered easier in that sense.

This doesn't help very much in test situations when you have limited time to answer questions.

This was true as well. Especially the second sequence, one of my biggest issues was time limits on the exams. Sometimes you had to triage problems and select the ones that were easier to derive.

Still no regrets about taking the calc-based one. The derivations made that class more fun. However, if one were to take it to get a pre-req out of the way and nothing more, I'd say go with the easier one.

 

[Iso4ane]

BUt, to be honest electricity and mag, is a pain in the ass regardless of being algerbra based or calc based, but in calc based E&M there just a few more ways your prof can screw you over, given that your can now derive the equations.