How to Study Physics?

Most recent answer: 02/06/2012

Q:
This ouestion may be out of topic but please answer it!how can we make our physics study more simpler and easier?
- Angel Pudasaini (age 16)
Ktm, basundhara
A:
Angel- We're very pleased to get your question from Kathmandu. We can only give a few thoughts, because our understanding of how to teach and learn physics is not nearly as advanced as physics itself.

It's a good idea to focus on the basic physical principles and use them to solve problems. Many students try to look for a collection of "formulas" for different problems, but that approach is a dead end. The world is too complicated for us to memorize special answers for each situation.

Working together with other students to discuss how to solve problems seems to be an effective way to acquire understanding.

There are a number of books which seem to do a better-than-average job of conveying the basic ideas. Thomas Moore's series (Unit C,, Unit N, etc. ) provides good introductions. The Feynman Lectures provide a more advanced view. Reif's book on Thermal Physics for the Berkeley series provides a good college course on that topic, one I've been paying attention to recently.

Perhaps readers and colleagues may want to contribute other thoughts and suggestions.

Mike W.



(published on 02/06/2012)