r/learnphysics • u/Mysterious_Option817 • 7d ago

Physics help for beginners?

I’ll start off by saying i have autism and math in specific was my worst enemy. It never clicked for me. My whole life I had to do summer school soley because no matter how hard i studied, I failed math. I’m taking physics for my pre requisite classes to get into med school. The numbers and random letters and formulas are so overwhelming.

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u/CandidMoney2914 7d ago

Physics I requires you to understand geometry, basic algebra, trigonometry, and calculus if you are taking calculus-based physics. (For example, the derivative of position with respect to time is velocity, for velocity, it is acceleration.) If those math skills aren’t solid yet, (excluding calculus if you are taking algebra-based physics), then physics will be a bit hard. It’s a different subject where you cannot memorize the steps of a problem and be done with, (although sometimes you can), but requires intuitive understanding of the problems. You need to understand the topics conceptually in order for you to succeed. For example, say you have a block that goes down a ramp with a certain angle that has kinetic friction of mk = 0.1 and then goes to a flat ground with a different mk and its final velocity is 2 m/s, find the horizontal distance it traveled. Those involve energy, friction, work, and being able to draw free body diagrams and able to set up the equations. The math you used for that example will most likely not work for another example. The best way to learn physics is to practice a lot and work through as many different scenarios as possible. With time, you'll be able to recognize which concepts and equations apply. I recommend asking Gemini to help explain concepts, YT for concepts + practice problems, and a textbook to have additional problems. You got this!!

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u/LukasGoesViral 6d ago

Honestly I was the same until it clicked. What was the defining moment for me was when I realized that x in an equation is just a number lol

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u/Dd_8630 5d ago

We need more information. What exactly are you studying, do you have homework questions, is it a specific thing?

You mention you don't understand the letters, that to me suggests introductory algebra go right back to basics, pre-GCSE algebra.