Studying About how much time should it take for me to finish an undergrad problem set?

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The discussion revolves around the challenges of self-learning undergraduate physics, particularly the time commitment required for problem sets. Participants suggest that while three hours per problem set may seem reasonable, it often falls short of the actual time needed, which can vary significantly based on the complexity of the material. The common guideline of three hours of study for every hour in class is mentioned, but some individuals report spending much more time, with one noting they dedicated up to eight hours on a single problem before moving on. Emphasis is placed on the importance of understanding concepts rather than just completing problems, and the value of having access to mentors or peers for support is highlighted. Overall, the consensus suggests that students should be prepared for a substantial time investment and focus on deep comprehension of the material.
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I have program that i want to follow to try to self learn undergrad physics deeply but i find myself hating when i have to check the solution of a problem set but at the same time if i didn't do that i wouldnt have the time to do other problem sets. So i want to know how much it takes you guys to finish an undergrad physics problem set on average. Do you think 3 hours is a good estimate
 
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The usual rule of thumb is 3 hours of study for every hour in the classroom. So 3 hours per set is not a crazy number. Note that it may take more than 3 hours of clock time to do 3 hours of work.
 
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There is no one good number for that. In my undergrad thermodynamics class, I allowed 8 hours on a problem before moving on. That one class took as much study time as all of my other classes that semester. I was only able to finish about 2/3 of the problems in each set. But I got an A in the course.

Concentrate on understanding the concepts being taught. Some classes are harder than others, and take more time.
 
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Do you have access to either a professor (mentor) or other similarly minded students at your level? That can make things much less frustrating.
 
actually no
 
aissam said:
I have program that i want to follow to try to self learn undergrad physics deeply but i find myself hating when i have to check the solution of a problem set but at the same time if i didn't do that i wouldnt have the time to do other problem sets. So i want to know how much it takes you guys to finish an undergrad physics problem set on average. Do you think 3 hours is a good estimate
Too too long ago; but three hours for most single problem-sets (exercises) is not enough. I do not say how long the time should be; only that three hour is not enough.
 

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