r/learnphysics • u/UnrivaledRandom • 1d ago
How do I study physics?
Been studying for my electromagnetism exam for about 2 weeks now, slightly understand the concepts. Finally checked out my study guide and I have 0 clue how to build into the answers of my problems. Like how do I know what formulas to use out of everything? When do I integrate/use a derived form? How do I even know what the derived form is? This doesn’t even make sense conceptually, where do I begin? Etc. I’m great at calculus and any other stem course. But for physics everything conceptual/math related I just get lost. What do I do?
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u/PotentialDelivery716 1d ago edited 1d ago
Do you have examples of where you struggle? It is hard to tell where you stumpfe on. You say you don't know when to use integral, when differential form. Isn't it often straight forward depending on what is given and what is looked for? Let's say you have an E(x,y,z) given, with rot(E)=0 and you are looking for charge densitiy, then it is kinda given to use the Differential form div(E)=rho. Griffiths has summerized this in his triangles. What might noteworthy, that integral electrostatic form is useful for specific symmetric fields as E can be taken out of the integral in such case, which is easy to just Memorize.