What is the best way to learn physics?

[MDtoBe777]

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What is the best way to learn physics? Problems, problems and more problems? haha... I think it's hard to learn this subject because it is so boring 😱 Any advice is greatly appreciated. 🙂

 

[ASDIC]

are u taking a prep course?

If not,

Get the "Fundamentals of Physics" By Halliday Resnick and Walker
Excellent textbook

For the problems get the EK 1001 Physics

 

[MDtoBe777]

Yes, I'm taking TPR. But, everything that my teacher covers in class is so basic!! It's nothing like the real MCAT problems.

 

[ASDIC]

I took TPR too...the TPR Physical Sciences Review Book is really awesome!

I found the workbook problems decent to the real deal...(i took the april test.)

 

[MoosePilot]

Yes, I'm taking TPR. But, everything that my teacher covers in class is so basic!! It's nothing like the real MCAT problems.

Huh? The real MCAT is basic 🙂

Especially the physical sciences. It's based on two physics classes, how "advanced" can it get?

 

[Medikit]

Huh? The real MCAT is basic 🙂

Especially the physical sciences. It's based on two physics classes, how "advanced" can it get?

I'll vouch for that.

 

[slackerjock]

What is the best way to learn physics? Problems, problems and more problems? haha... I think it's hard to learn this subject because it is so boring 😱 Any advice is greatly appreciated. 🙂

as a physics major, i suggest reading your high school text to understand concepts. others have mentioned nova. good! do NOT read any college level texts, esp calculus based.

practice with TPR test material. those are really comparable to the real deal. the workbook isnt so good.

 

[Jon Davis]

Well, if you have a problem with working on lots of problems, then you have a big problem.
Hope that cleared up things. 😀

 

[sistahnik]

Jon Davis: !! sorry I didn't mean to laugh out loud. 😀

 

[adorible23]

In addition to problems problems problems, I actually sat down and memorized the list of formulas in the front of the TPR physics section. If it takes you way to much time to do, then don't worry, but I made flash cards with the name of the formula and or the situation you would use it in on one side, and the formula and meanings of the variables on the other, ( sound traveling away, frictionless pulleys etc. ) then once I thought I had a solid basis in them, tackled the problems over and over and tried my best to use formulas from memory and not from reference ( This is not the best advice to really truly grasp physics, but if you have the same problems understanding it as I did, it will help you just score some points and get the job done on most problem types. )

 

[IndyZX]

for mcat physics, i wouldnt study from college textbooks. aslo, i think just doing well in your college physics classes wont help as much as it will in other subjects, esp gen chem and bio. you need to gain an intuitive sense about the general governing principles in order to do well.

the best tools are nova physics and ek physics (other than the heat/energy/thermo parts). if you study hard using these two books, i think thats all you need.

its all basic, but its a very thorough basic 🙂

 

[N1DERL&]

Is it more conceptual, like what would happen in certain situations.....

Or is it more problems based?

 

[IndyZX]

conceptually problem based 🙂

the calculations are hard, but there is problem solving.

 

[N1DERL&]

Thx IndyZX!

 

[ASDIC]

you might want to get "The Cartoon Guide to Physics: by Gonick"

 

[N1DERL&]

Our teacher is always talking about learning to be intuitive and developing an instinct to physics. I keep reviewing EK and my textbook.... I barely have human instincts ... when is my physics gonna arrive... 🙁

 

[IndyZX]

conceptually problem based 🙂

the calculations are hard, but there is problem solving.

edit: the calculations *aren't* hard...