i hate physics

[synapse]

---

Members do not see this ad.

i dont understand physics at all. do you guys have any advice?

i read the chapter... looked at the sample probs in the chapter reading, but then when i try to do the problem, i dont know how 🙁 how do you guys do it?

i did okay in ochem, gchem, calc, etc... but i HATE physics.

i took physics in HS and i got a 1 on the AP test.

please help 🙁

 

[Munchkin6245]

This may sound strange but I used the ExamKrackers MCAT Physics books to help me understand what I was doing in my Physics lecture. I wish I would have had them for Organic Chem, but alas, no. But that's my advice.

 

[MizzouDrWannabe]

I hate physics too 🙁 I'm in calc based physics and I feel like I'm always staring at the teacher with a dumb look on my face, I never know what's going on!! So, even though I can't help, at least I can empathize and say YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Examkrackers is a good idea, I might just try that.

 

[jules0328]

i dont understand physics at all. do you guys have any advice?

i read the chapter... looked at the sample probs in the chapter reading, but then when i try to do the problem, i dont know how 🙁 how do you guys do it?

i did okay in ochem, gchem, calc, etc... but i HATE physics.

i took physics in HS and i got a 1 on the AP test.

please help 🙁

May I suggest trying to find a better textbook. Seriously, what kind of textbook are you usiing in class? Are you using College Physics by Wilson and Buffa, by any chance? If so, that is a hard text to grasp. i would try to seek out help from the smartest kid in the class. does your school have physics tutor labs you can attend? You need to not give up and try your hardest here. Good luck.

 

[VPDcurt]

Physics is actually relatively simple...there are only a few equations that you need to know but the problem lies in the fact that said equations are applicable to numerous situations. just try to learn what those situations are and then you should be fine. many different examples boil down to the same equation. good luck.

 

[ShyRem]

I have one basic guiding principal that has never failed me when dealing with physics:


THINK LIKE AN IDIOT.


Truly. Never failed. Draw a pretty picture. Color it if you want. Pencil in what you KNOW happens (and if you don't know what a ball does when you throw it, GO THROW ONE AND WATCH). DO NOT... I repeat... DO NOT THINK unless absolutely necessary. Physics is there to explain what we know happens - it just tries to say WHY it happens that way.

 

[blankguy]

Do as many problems as possible and do them repeatedly. That way it will cover any possible angle that the question can be asked in the exam(especially if the professor is the type that makes his/her own problems for the exams as opposed to basing the problems from the problem sets). Some times you just need to hammer ideas in. If you are grumbling about physics now wait until you get to the second semester

 

[MizzouDrWannabe]

I have one basic guiding principal that has never failed me when dealing with physics:


THINK LIKE AN IDIOT.


Truly. Never failed. Draw a pretty picture. Color it if you want. Pencil in what you KNOW happens (and if you don't know what a ball does when you throw it, GO THROW ONE AND WATCH). DO NOT... I repeat... DO NOT THINK unless absolutely necessary. Physics is there to explain what we know happens - it just tries to say WHY it happens that way.

That is hilarious, and it actually makes sense!

 

[rpkall]

I like the think like an idiot princple. When I tried this in undergrad, in between the two physics semesters, my lecture grade went from B to A-. Really, learning vectors inside and out helps a lot too. If you can understand the point of vectors, and the different situations they're used for, you can apply the simple geometry to almost any problem. But use the resources the college gives to you. It is better to be remembered as a B- student who tried his absolute hardest to grasp the material, than as a C student who was too afraid, timid, or embarrassed to make friends with the people who are paid to teach you, and make them do their jobs. 😉

 

[neuropower]

our school had a help session every day in the afternoon led by a physics grad student. we all took our problem sets there and tried to do the problems and asked questions when we had them. that was the only way i could have done well in physics. you have to do lots of problems and make sure you understand why you use a certain formula for a certain problem. the only way to do that is to ask lots and lots of questions...so that's why the help session was great. if they don't have that at your school, i would suggest trying to do the problem set on your own first (and its always good to have the answers so you can check to see if you're right or wrong), then make a list of questions of things that don't make sense and then go to the professor's office hours and ask ALL your questions.

 

[ShyRem]

Vectors. Let me explain vectors in the "think like an idiot" terms.

A vector is a PICTURE of motion. A long arrow goes farther in 1 sec than a short arrow. SO, a long arrow is a PICTURE of a faster object. ALSO, the arrow points in the direction you're going. Adding vectors? Put your little car on one arrow and drive (pretend they're roads). When you get to the end of your road, the other arrow is the other road (like an intersection). Turn the corner and continue to the end of the road. Now draw a line like the crow flies from where you started to where you ended.

I'm tellin' ya.... PICTURES. Pretty pictures will at least get you partial credit, too... PICTURES ROCK in physics.

(this is how I explained it to my co-horts in physics. Brought one guy from a D to a B this way. I'm actually a math major, so I put all this stuff into matrices to manipulate it 🙂 )

 

[SailCrazy]

I'm tellin' ya.... PICTURES. Pretty pictures will at least get you partial credit, too... PICTURES ROCK in physics.

I completely agree with the pictures. Do them EVERY time. They can help you figure out the hard stuff, and keep you from making stupid mistakes on the easy stuff.

If your professor lets you use a formula sheet, make it up before you do your homework and use it for all problems.
1) you'll make sure that you have everything you need.
2) you'll be accostomed to useing it.
3) Perhaps most importantly, you'll take the picture you've drawn, say "What do I know?" (what information do I have) and using the formulas available, "How can I get from what I have give to the answer I need to know??

Another tip: Try to figure out what the (limited number of) underlying concepts are. (Conservative vs. non-conservative forces, etc.) If you know these few basic concepts, you can do a much better job of problem solving each question.