I’m OK at mathematics and such, but the problem I have with Physics which always holds me back is that I have great difficulty trying to determine which method to use. A lot of the time, I usually have someone prompt me about which method to use, and then everything else goes smoothly. But I don’t want to rely on others or cheat. I want to get better at doing it myself. How can I do this?
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Ah, you’ve hit on the major cause for poor grades in physics…a lack of understanding the laws of physics. Too often students spend most of their time memorizing equations and have no clue what physics those equations are describing. Rote memory of equations will not do it.
You can get better at determining which method to use if you learn the physics better. As you read your lesson, start with the definitions. Memorize and understand those. They are, after all, the building blocks upon which the physics laws are built.
And as you memorize all these things you can shove them into categories like conservation of momentum law, or Hooke’s law, or Newton’s law of gravity, for example. This will help you focus on the right pertinent laws and method for problem solving; that is, knowing what law of physics the problem is all about.
For example, when learning the conservation of energy law, learn the definitions for energy, force, work, power, and stored and kinetic energy. Then learn how they are interrelated if at all. No equations or formulae, just text, narrative. You should be able to tell your younger sister what the definitions and interrelationships are so that she can understand them. That’s the start to learning the laws of physics.
Once you’re comfortable that you understand the laws you’re supposed to be studying, then and only then, derive the equations you find in the lesson. Derive…not memorize…them. And as you derive them, put in some of your own variations (your teacher probably will come exam time). For example, if you can derive an equation to find the kinetic energy of a body upon impact from a fall, do a derivation for the speed of that impact. (The two approaches are related.)
Finally, rely on others. What? Yep, brainstorm with the aces in your class. Once a week, at the school if possible, meet with others and go over the laws learned for that week. Call in for pizzas and sodas and make it a fun evening while each ace presents what he or she thinks is important and, most important, what the teacher thinks is important (you’ll see that at exams).
Study with a tutor 🙂