Tips for memorizing and deriving physics equations?

[R35]

Hey all. The last time I took physics was two years ago, and I need to brush up on that topic. I'm mainly using TPRH with NOVA Physics as a guide; however, I'm finding TPR too difficult for my level and may opt for TBR.

Anyway, do you guys have any tips on how to memorize the kinematic physics equations? They're very daunting and I'm not even sure how to start deriving them.

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[brood910]

Make a "cheat sheet" for equations that you cant memorize well.
Also, just do a lot of questions. They will just be natural to you after some time.

 

[CW 2010]

Hey all. The last time I took physics was two years ago, and I need to brush up on that topic. I'm mainly using TPRH with NOVA Physics as a guide; however, I'm finding TPR too difficult for my level and may opt for TBR.

Anyway, do you guys have any tips on how to memorize the kinematic physics equations? They're very daunting and I'm not even sure how to start deriving them.

I think TBR is even more difficult, LOL. I have all equations on flashcards. Just use whatever method worked for you in the past.

 

[R35]

I think TBR is even more difficult, LOL. I have all equations on flashcards. Just use whatever method worked for you in the past.

Thanks. As for TBR being more difficult, how is that? Are the passage questions tougher, or is the content explained in a more convoluted way?

I was under the impression TBR is excellent at simplifying material.

 

[brood910]

Thanks. As for TBR being more difficult, how is that? Are the passage questions tougher, or is the content explained in a more convoluted way?

I was under the impression TBR is excellent at simplifying material.

Passages are fine.
Some of their questions are very very hard (unnecessarily hard) mainly because they are too deep.
You will never see those kinds of questions on MCAT.

 

[petyr_baelish]

Thanks. As for TBR being more difficult, how is that? Are the passage questions tougher, or is the content explained in a more convoluted way?

I was under the impression TBR is excellent at simplifying material.

TPRH is easier than TBR. I have done all of the TPRH science workbook discretes and some passages, and half of TBR. I can assure you TBR is much more difficult. This turns out to be a good thing but if you are just getting your feet wet, NOVA and TPR are great. Chad's videos makes things easy to understand too.

 

[Warrenc]

Hey all. The last time I took physics was two years ago, and I need to brush up on that topic. I'm mainly using TPRH with NOVA Physics as a guide; however, I'm finding TPR too difficult for my level and may opt for TBR.

Anyway, do you guys have any tips on how to memorize the kinematic physics equations? They're very daunting and I'm not even sure how to start deriving them.

OP, idk if this will help you or not, but the way I found physics to help is by deriving units....
this is especially helpful if you can't remember which factor is divided by, multiplied by, etc.
for example: equation for velocity of a wave v= wavelength (lambda) * frequency. what's the units for velocity? meters/second. here, you have to see that whatever you multiply by must have the units of what you're solving for. wavelength is in units of meters, and frequency is 1/seconds. multiplied together, you get m/s, velocity.

this can be applied to mostly any equation.. Work = units of N*m, which is equivalent to Joules.. the equation for Work = F*cos(1) *d. Units for force? Newtons (which can be also derived from F=ma in a separate example). distance is in meters, so multiplied together is N*m.

this is mostly how i was able to memorize an equation...


as for the kinematics, i just memorized three of the 'big five' that TPR says.
1: vf = vo * at^2
2. d = vot * 1/2*at^2
3. vf^2 = vo^2 * 2ad

there's a pretty common pattern here. memorizing that these three have the exact same first factor, vo, and only differing in t or squared made it easier for me to memorize the rest..

idk if this advice helped, but this is what i did.

edit: of course you have to try to at least have an understanding of the formulas first, this is to help with logical flow of why the factors give you the answer you want.

 

[CW 2010]

Thanks. As for TBR being more difficult, how is that? Are the passage questions tougher, or is the content explained in a more convoluted way?

I was under the impression TBR is excellent at simplifying material.

For some people maybe TBR is simplifying; however, for me personally it was more difficult and discouraging. I thought that it went into enormous detail on some topics, and yet on others the authors just assumed you already know the basics and there is no need to discuss some simple things. My science prereqs are a few years old, so I need an explanation for everything and in an easy to understand language. TBR practice passages are extremely difficult and I didn't see a value in solving passages that I barely understand and where I get 70% wrong. Perhaps, for somebody who has a very strong science foundation, TBR could be of benefit as it would further strengthen the person's knowledge and allow to achieve some awesome 40+ score. I am, on the other hand, have very average abilities and not so strong science knowledge, so I need the basics from a resource such as TPR or EK and some 30+ score 🙂

Now, keep in mind, this is coming from a person who has not taken the MCAT yet. We'll see how it all turns out 🙂