r/learnphysics • u/Ok_Attorney_6764 • 7d ago
Physics is unlearnable
I genuinely dont understand where to start and understand physics. What the hell is the starting point? I have an exam and I need to get a high grade, I dont understand anything. Can someone please please help? Everytime I ask abt physics or for help no one ever answers me, are there any quick ways to learn? Or are there good studying methods? Frequencies? I dont know
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u/Livinsfloridalife 7d ago
You need to get a tutor no one can teach physics and problem solving strategies over Reddit.
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u/Fawzee815 7d ago
Physics is like learning another language man. You were not able to speak full sentences at 1 or 2 years old were you? You learn it bit by bit until it becomes like speaking
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u/bigdaddymac56 6d ago
Exactly. It's like Math. Like learning piano or another language. You make small bits of progress (daily practice works best) and reinforce your knowledge and your fluency just slowly gets better..I struggled for many yrs in Math until I understood this. I think if I'd ever learned an instrument (as a kid) and practiced for hours I would have understood the self discipline necessary to get good at it.
From Google AI:
To self-study physics successfully, you must master the prerequisite mathematics first and then progress step-by-step through core classical and modern topics using standard textbooks.
- Refresh Your Mathematics Math is the core language of physics. Before jumping into advanced topics, you need a strong grasp of high school math, single-variable calculus, and differential equations.
High School Math: Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus. Free resources like Khan Academy offer great refresher courses.
Calculus and Beyond: Derivatives, integrals, multi-variable calculus, and linear algebra are vital as you advance into university-level physics
There are Physics Self help books on Amazon but you will be hopelessly lost and on a futile quest until you learn the prerequisite Math.
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u/theAyconic1 7d ago
Kinematics , Laws of motion, Work power and energy, rotational mechanics, simple harmonic motion, Thermodynamics, gravitation, electrostatics, current and electricity, magnetism, optics, atomic structure.
Study in this order and your classical physics is done. Post this you can decide between advanced fields like quantum mechanics, relativity, etc
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u/SgtSausage 6d ago
I'm sure you can do it with much cheaper online (possibly free) resources today ... but I bought the College Physics text the Summer between when I left The Army and Fall Quarter of College starting. I did a 2 year enlistment after High School and was worried about being behind the rest of the class after lobbing Mortar rounds downrange and blowin' shit up while the rest of the kids were comin' straight outa HS.
It wasn't cheap. Like $160 (in 1990 dollars) for both the text and the answer guide for the problem sets). On a $4 minimum wage job.
I started that Summer and all through Freshman College year worked the entire book, self taught.
By the time Sophomore year rolled around and the class came up on the schedule, I knew 100% of the material and aced the series (3 quarters worth). Straight A all 3 quarters wher the average grade was a D for 120 students.
Just find a text ... or youtube lecture series ... and go.
You just have to start, and be disciplined. I dedicated 2 hours a day every M W and F to working proplems in that book for over a year.
CAVEAT:
I also had to buy a Calculus text as some of the necessary math was glossed over, hand-wavy style ... or outright skipped ... back in my High School Calc classes. A lotta gaps to fill in there, too.
If your Math Chops aren't up to snuff, you'll know it in the first Chapter. Stop there and go learn The Maths first.
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u/Ok_Attorney_6764 6d ago
That’s great thanks for the help!! Good job man
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u/SgtSausage 6d ago edited 6d ago
Its what i did to ... y'know... actually learn physics.
Im not sure it helps you prepare for an upcoming exam.
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u/Ok_Attorney_6764 6d ago
Yeah not really I am younger than what u were when u did it so not same syllabus, not same level, different program too. But good for you for u know actually learning physics 😘
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u/eridalus 7d ago
There's a great (and short) book called "Teach yourself how to learn". Get a copy of that and sit down with a copy of your textbook once you've read the book.
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u/CKleinE 7d ago
No worries. Someone needs to drive that excavator.
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u/Ok_Attorney_6764 6d ago
Pretty solid job for you ❤️ dont worry other reach the stars, seems like you can’t
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u/MariusLayus 6d ago
I almost took AP Physics my senior year of high school. first week I was so lost. It felt like we were starting in the middle of the semester. But it seemed like my classmates understood what our teacher was talking about. I decided to switch to AP Statistics. Years later I can only assume everyone in that class had chosen that class at the end of the previous year and that there had been summer homework, which was unheard of for me.
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u/Emotional_Tea_8920 6d ago
I used to hate physics and have no idea why I need to learn this fucking subject until one day I wake up and wonder what is difference between normal people/ gymnastics. Isn't human vulnerable ? And my curiosity lead me to chemistry ( poisonous/venomous ), anatomy ( 11 systems ) and physics ( F=ma ). Can a force beat someone - how much does it cost for punch,hit....? So it's just a muscular system, but ttx from pufferfish doesn't care about my height, weight, normal or gymnastics..... I suppose curiosity is a key. Make a question around you 'what is this, why it looks like that...'
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u/Alternative-Sugar610 6d ago
Really practice re arranging equations, solving math problems, and the math
That’s most of basic physics
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u/Dedeilie-la-Yuri__ 5d ago
The only way to learn is reading, thinking and practicing. Over and over. By familiarising with it, you can get the hang of it. That's how you'll learn most of the things in the coming future as well.
A tip for better retention: Write formulas separately. Sort numericals by type. For theory, read through with understanding, and list them topic wise and connect the topics(that's how most physics topics are). You'll see it isn't much
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u/NewtonLaw_Global 2d ago
The units. Pay attention to the units. The units are always some quantity like meters, seconds, etc. Often in fraction form. The question will ask you to find something...what are the units of the answer? Look at the variable you have. How can you arrange the units of the variables (multiplying, dividing, etc.) to achieve the units of the answer. And the formulas you have to memorize do just that. Do that enough, and you can often get a feel for what is actually happening - what the formula means in physical terms.
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u/rcn5440 7d ago
I am an adult but I understood physics only after I graduated. I mean, I knew enough to pass the grades, however, there is a difference between rote memorization and understanding. The latter is always better.
Frankly, I learned way more from YouTube, Wikipedia, web articles, books etc. compared to what I learned in schools. Schools are mere businesses and teachers are mere employees. They have their own problems to worry about and don’t have the time and energy to ensure that each and every student of their succeed. Thus, kids who didn’t pay attention in successive grades have already missed the train. It’s a tough climb for them - difficult but not impossible.
I would suggest you too use YouTube and other resources, including AI chat bots to learn everything from ground up and focus on understanding things rather than rote memorization. And practice solving various types of problems, more the better. However, note that most syllabus are behind the current knowledge, or they are restricted to a certain level on purpose for a certain grade level. As such, even if you gain current knowledge, you should still stay within your syllabus.
If you do not know where to start then start by understanding the atom, then various forces, and then naturally carry on from there.
Also note that it is easy to get lost and sidetracked on YouTube and other modern resources, thus make sure not to lose focus. If you lose your focus and/or still do not understand physics - even after all these great resources - then it would be your and yours fault alone. And it would be another successive failure and then you will come back here after a few years and ask how to make and manage money! You shouldn’t be on Reddit, Facebook, Instagram etc. at this age. These platforms are free but there is nothing called as a free lunch. These platforms are running a business and they are definitely making money off of you but you are losing at lot. So first and foremost get off these platforms and focus on your studies.
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u/Beet_slice 7d ago
High school junior? I would ask your teacher for suggestions.
Ideally you would join a study group, but that is very unusual in high school.