Learning physics helps you understand how the world works and why everything around you is the way it is. However, it can feel discouraging to study this subject when you look at the countless concepts, theories, equations, and units.
If you want to figure out how to study physics, this guide is for you. It is a game plan that demystifies this subject, makes learning fun, and helps you perform well in exams.
Who This Physics Study Guide Is For
Are you struggling with physics learning or feeling stuck with this subject? We designed this how to get better at physics guide for everyone, including:
- High school, honors, advanced placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) students who want a strong foundation in physics
- College students, including physical sciences and engineering students that require an introduction to physics or a refresher
- Adult learners who are curious about the world of physics
- Students preparing for competitive exams
Why Physics Can Feel Hard — And How To Beat It
Physics is hard, regardless of whether you’re new or already familiar with this subject because of the following reasons:
- Cramming doesn’t work: You can’t regurgitate what you memorized last night in physics. The subject requires you to apply what you know with critical thinking to solve new problems. This subject can feel hard if you don’t have a solid foundation.
- Physics is interdisciplinary: Physics requires a deep understanding of maths and real-world models to solve various problems in this subject. If your foundation in maths isn’t strong, it becomes challenging to perform well in physics.
So, how to learn physics if you’re already finding it difficult to study this subject? Well, the best way to study physics is to use a proper strategy and learning structure to grasp the various concepts. Additionally, it becomes a lot easier to crack this subject with the right learning tools.
Core Physics Topics Students Struggle With
If you ask any student about what physics topics they find hard to grasp, it’s usually the following core concepts:
- Kinematics & Newtons Laws
- Work, Energy & Power
- Thermodynamics
- Electricity & Magnetism
- Waves & Oscillations
- Optics
- Modern physics, like quantum physics
- Measurements & SI units
Best Study Strategies for Physics (At Any Level)
Let’s focus on how to master physics by using strategies that make learning fun and approachable for everyone.
1. Master the Math Behind the Physics
One of the keys to understanding physics is ensuring you have a solid foundation in maths. You’ll use various branches of maths like algebra, calculus, and trigonometry in physics problems.
Ensure you brush up on your maths because you’ll need them in class. It becomes easier to follow your professor as they explain how to solve various problems.
2. Focus on Core Concepts – Not Just Formulas
We understand that you need to know the formulas like the back of your hand as you’ll use them regularly. At the same time, you must know the core concepts in the formulae.
For example, P = F/A, i.e., you get pressure when you divide force by area. You’ll need to know what pressure, force, and area are and their relation with one another. You can even go one step further and understand how to derive these equations.
Pressure requires applying some amount of force to a specific area. If there is no force, there is no pressure on the system.
You must also know how to calculate force, which is ma, i.e., the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration. The area can change depending on the shape of the object.
As you understand the core concepts and their connections, it becomes easier to remember the formulae.
3. Visualize the Problem
When you’re approaching a physics problem, you should visualize it. Draw diagrams, doodles, or pretty much anything to represent the concept visually. Imagine the process visually, and you’ll find it easier to understand the concept.
Represent the problem in the form of a diagram. Sometimes, you’ll need to use graphs or motion charts to make sense of the question. If you can’t understand the concept in words, draw it.
Here is an example — you press the Power button on a remote. It sends a signal via the infrared transmitter to your TV. You cannot see the signal, but you can visualize it. Think of it as a wave that emerges from the remote and moves towards the TV. When this wave hits the TV, the appliance decodes the signal and turns on.
4. Practice Active Problem-Solving
Only reading your physics textbook and notes isn’t enough to understand this subject. You need to take an active role to make sense of various concepts.
For example, solve the questions at the end of a chapter without looking at the solutions. Then, see if your answer is the same as the solution. If it’s different, analyze where you went wrong and see how to solve the problem properly.
Or, find a quiz relevant to your subject and see how many questions you can answer correctly. Analyze your mistakes to identify your knowledge gaps, and work on filling those holes.
You can even imagine you’re the teacher, and you need to explain how to solve a physics problem. Explain the steps out loud and keep the descriptions simple so anyone can understand. Active problem-solving shows you what you must work on and reinforces existing knowledge.
5. Use Real-Life Analogies
Using real-life analogies shows physics in action and makes it relatable. For example, you’re baking bread with chocolate chips. As the bread expands, the chocolate chips move further away from one another. In this analogy, the bread is the universe, and the chocolate chips are galaxies. In other words, as the universe expands, galaxies also move away and spread out.
However, analogies have limitations, as they don’t account for every minute detail. But, they can be an excellent starting point because they provide an introduction to the topic.
6. Review Your Mistakes
Embrace your mistakes in physics, as they provide insight into what went wrong. They also shed light on how you can improve. For example, when you’re analyzing a problem you solved recently, you notice you used the wrong formula.
Why did this happen? Is it because you didn’t understand the problem? Are there similar formulae that make it confusing to use the right equation to find the answer? Asking yourself these questions helps you identify existing problems.
You must also keep a journal of all your mistakes. Why? It encourages you to look for solutions to address your mistakes so that you can avoid them.
7. Don’t Memorize, Understand
Physics isn’t a subject where rote memorization works because you must apply your knowledge actively. You need to be curious and keep an open mind when you learn physics.
For example, why is this phenomenon taking place? How can you solve the problem? What formula should you use to reach the right solution?
This encourages deeper learning, especially when you realize you must brush up on specific topics. It may take longer,
8. Create a Formula Sheet From Scratch
A premade formula sheet is convenient, as you have everything you need. However, creating your formula sheet from scratch is always better. There are several good reasons for going this route. For starters, you use your memory to recall what you already know, which is good practice.
You can also explain what each symbol means in the formula. Additionally, you should also use the unit of measurement for each symbol. Doing this strengthens your foundation and ensures you won’t make any mistakes when applying formulae to solve problems.
Best Physics Books by Level
Physics books contain loads of information you’ll always find helpful. Here are some of our recommendations for physics books, depending on your level.
High School
For high school students, we recommend Conceptual Physics by Paul G. Hewitt. The explanations are clear and easy to follow. The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg and The Character of Physical Law by Feynman are good books for beginners.
College (Undergraduate)
As a college student, you can’t go wrong with Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Walker, and Resnick. The book covers several topics in your undergraduate course, so you’ll find the information useful.
You can also give The Feynman Lectures on Physics a go. Richard Feynman is a legendary science communicator who knows how to explain anything in physics in simple words.
Advanced/Enthusiasts
Introduction to Elementary Particles by Griffiths is a good starting point for advanced physics students. A First Course in General Relativity by Bernard Schutz does an excellent deep dive into general relativity. Another superb choice is Bruce Schumm’s Deep Down Things: The Breathtaking Beauty of Particle Physics.
Best YouTube Channels To Learn Physics
Visualization, especially while learning physics, will change how you view the subject. The good news is that there are several excellent physics-based YouTube channels, like the ones highlighted below.
Beginner to Intermediate
If you’re new to physics, we recommend going through Khan Academy’s lectures on various physics topics. They provide sufficient information that anyone can understand. Kurzgesart — In a Nutshell and Vsauce create entertaining and informational videos for physics learners of all levels.
Advanced
You can watch StarTalk by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an excellent science communicator, to learn physics. Although several topics are about astrophysics, he also covers several topics on physics regularly. The best part about this channel is that they call experts in other fields to discuss their expertise. PBS Space Time and Flammable Maths also have loads of information about physics and maths.
How To Study Physics for Exams
Here’s how to get good at physics and get excellent grades in your exams:
- Solve problems instead of rereading your notes: As highlighted earlier, physics requires active learning to ensure a strong understanding of this subject. One way to test your knowledge is to solve the problems in your textbook. When you apply what you know, you’ll quickly discover what you need to work on, which helps improve your grades.
- Focus on concepts, formulae, and applications: Go through the concepts and formulae you learned in your course. You should also learn when to apply what you already know. Exams test your knowledge and how you use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Practice with older exam papers: Solving older exam papers is an effective and quick way to see how well you’ll perform in an actual exam. They also show the kinds of questions you can expect.
- Use time-based drills: You must answer questions quickly and clearly to do well in an exam. Time-based drills can prepare you for exams, as they can simulate a real-world test. Additionally, completing the tests within the specified time gives you the confidence to tackle the final exam.
- Create a cheat sheet: We know — you can’t carry a cheat sheet to an actual examination. But, a cheat sheet can form word associations with concepts, theories, and formulae, making recall easier.
Use Smodin’s Physics AI Solver To Learn and Solve Faster
Smodin’s Physics AI Homework Helper can make learning this complex subject much easier. How? If you have any questions, you can ask our tool anytime. It will not only give you an answer but will also provide a short and detailed explanation.
It shows all the resources it used to answer your question. Moreover, you get to see how it solved the question so that you understand what you need to do.
If you have physics homework, just paste the questions into our tool, and it will provide in-depth answers. It can also analyze images.
Our Physics AI Solver can help with active learning by generating physics quizzes and mock tests. It can even simplify its explanations to ensure you learn physics.
Final Tips To Stay Motivated While Studying Physics
If you have a physics test or exam around the corner, use these tips to ensure you remain motivated:
- Use passive and active learning techniques to reinforce your physics knowledge. For instance, if you want to read your notes, we recommend rewriting them.
- Make visualization an important part of your learning process. Use videos and diagrams to ensure you understand the concept.
- Set your weekly goals for physics and track your progress. Having meaning and achievable goals will motivate you to stay focused.
- Study with a friend, as this makes learning fun and interesting. You should also set aside some time to explain various concepts to each other. This tests your knowledge and shows where you can improve.
- Take regular breaks. There’s no point cramming for hours, as you need time to process the information. Also, make sure you go to bed on time and get adequate sleep. Lack of sleep affects your memory, which significantly impacts your grades.
Conclusion
Physics will never be about memorization, as the subject requires you to use logic to solve problems. Think of it as a practical subject that explains why the world is the way it is now. With the strategies and tips we recommend, it becomes easier to master this subject.
Along with our AI-powered Physics Helper, you have all the tools to understand physics. Start using Smodin today to leverage the power of AI in your academics and improve your grades!
Frequently Asked Questions
In this guide, we covered how to study physics. Do you feel something is missing? Go through this section, as there are answers to several questions on this topic.
What are the most effective strategies for studying physics?
Here are the most effective strategies for studying physics:
- Using active learning methods ensures you remember various concepts, theories, and formulas for a long time.
- Solving practice problems regularly to become familiar with the subject.
- Visualizing various concepts to simplify the learning process.
- Analyzing your mistakes and learning from them.
- Prioritizing learning the basics instead of memorizing everything in the subject.
How many hours per week should I spend studying physics?
You need to spend at least 2 – 3 hours studying physics for every hour you spend in a physics class. Spending 4 – 6 hours on physics is a good practice if you have two classes weekly. You can adjust this formula based on how many classes you have and your proficiency in this subject.
How can your physics AI tool help me with homework and studying?
Our physics AI tool can help you with homework and studying in the following ways:
- Answer all your homework questions with step-by-step solutions so you learn along the way.
- Simplify complex topics so you can understand them quickly.
- Create quizzes and mock tests to test your knowledge.
- Answer your doubts in seconds to ensure you don’t disrupt your flow while studying physics.
Do you provide learning tools for other subjects like chemistry and biology?
Yes, we provide several learning tools for other subjects, such as:
How can I use your platform regularly to boost my physics performance?
You should use our platform as a learning aid to boost your physics performance. Think of it as a professor who will always be ready to answer any question. If you have homework, our tool can show you the answer. You can also compare your solution to the provided answer to see if you understand the subject.
It can clarify concepts and theories so you don’t easily forget them. It can also help you identify your knowledge gaps and overcome them.