Any words of wisdom for Physics?

[med etudiant]

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I havent been doing so hot on the last 2 tests.

I have an A in the lab component (25% of final grade) ,

A "B" for homework (20% of final grade)

Full attendance (5%)

but the last 3 tests where a B-,D+,F which the tests make up (35%) of the grade. This is after the curves. ((What bothers me the most is that the last two tests were below class average.))

Final is worth 15%

UPDATE: 11/21 test: Got a B.
I have to get a B or better. Any thoughts? HELP!

[jameslynton]

My son is in physics currently at U of VA. We both now share the same feeling about Physics Profs and TA's. It is not a good one.

The tried and true method for doing well in physics and math is this. Do all the problems - redo the problems until you can do them fast and without errors. Get a good physics Q-Bank - I suggest ExamKrakers MCAT physics (this will help with MCAT also) and 1,000 physics problems is good also. There are others out there. In the area of the test you are working find the problems in the q-bank and work them all over and over for speed. Speed is very important as that most Physics profs will not give you the time to remember and set up the equations if you are slow. So being fast helps this - you have to practice these bad boys. In beginner or general physics not much has changed in the last hundred years or so. There are a finite number of problems and equations they can give you. If your know them, can set them up and do them - you will score well on the exam. Don't wait till the exam to see them setup for the first time.

Generally, people don't believe this when I tell them - he/she who does the most problems wins in physics and math. What I have seen in class is that most people will work the problems once maybe twice. This will not give you success on the test which have a time management part to them.

I was a TA in organic way back when and also a TA in statistics as a grad student. Most of the math and physics students don't believe me when I said do the problems over and over. The minimum number times you need to do the problems is about five to eight times. On the last couple of times change the numbers so you can get good calculation experience with equations.

Next study like you will take the test - this is called state dependent learning. This aids your recall. Your best recall happens when you study in a place similar to the place you will take the test. This is a known psychology principle. If you study in a place with some music or the TV on you will not recall the info later. If you study in a classroom not being used same lights - chairs - sounds your recall will be 30% better on the test. How I use this is I read the text in a vacant classroom and work problems there.

Make flash cards of the equations and know what each symbol means. Know what units they will be in. For example F=MA will F be newtons? Is mass in grams - kilograms? How is acceleration measured (meters/Sec**2) and what units will it be in. You have to know the difference between scaler and vectors etc. These things take time and grunt work to nail down pat. Did you do this before the tests? Is F=MA Newtons first, second or third law?

Lastly, if you don't understand the problem, read more about it, ask the prof or TA's nicely or find a tutor who will help you setup and work the problems with examples till you can master or understand your issue with the problem. This can be people at the school - on the internet where ever. The bad thing is many of the profs or TA's do not have good English language skills now days. Also you will find they do not like pre-meds.

Hope this helps!

[med etudiant]

Thanks for the advice. I tryed doing the problems over again and again, but I find myself just getting frustrated- over not understanding the concepts, and than resort to reading the passages again and avoiding the questions.
I'm not good at math to begin with add, that to the fact that this is a hard subject for those who are good at math!

[tegraphile]

I agree. So long as you have the fundamental concepts down, doing the problems associated is important. You'll begin to see the nuances after being hit from a couple of different angles.