How can I improve my problem-solving skills in Physics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter narayan.rocks
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
8 replies · 4K views
narayan.rocks
Messages
38
Reaction score
0
iam good in theory not able to solve problems what should i do
 
Physics news on Phys.org


narayan.rocks said:
iam good in theory not able to solve problems what should i do

Do what you usually have to do to get good at things and practice! In all seriousness the only way to improve your problem solving skills is keep trying. A quickhttp://www.google.co.uk/search?q=problem+solving+for+physicists&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t" reveals many pages which you could read for advice or some more examples, have a look through some of the pages there.
 
Last edited by a moderator:


narayan.rocks said:
iam good in theory not able to solve problems what should i do

Experience often does the job.

Recalling inspiration toward such development just in reading DeMorgan's theory.
 


iam in 9th grade but i have completed my basics(uptil 10th grade) and i have no problem in solving problems uptil here . i started reading COP where the first four chapters i completed but the nest chapter was a bit difficult(Newtons laws of motion)
 


You are in 9th Grade then firstly do Numerical Problem book for that Grade then 10th and so on before going advanced. Plz Specify your country and ask for books in Science Book Discussion Section if you needed.
 


How do you know you are good at theory? If you are the problems should be fairly easy
 
Here is some steps to be followed for being good1) Read a section in the chapter.
2) Then, do the example problems for that section without looking at the solutions.
3) After that, look at the solution and see where you agree, but more importantly, where you differ from the solution.
4) Understand why you went wrong, and make a note (mental or physical) about it
5) Look at the problem set and answer the ones relevant to that section. If the problems get too redundant, simply write down the outline of the solution. Skip the ones that you are unable to solve.
6) Check your solutions.
7) Review.
8) If critical thinking questions are present, answer them next
9) Review.
10) Figure out how to solve the problems you couldn't solve from different sources like PF, teachers, mentors, books, etc.
11) If within mathematical ability, work out every theorem, every proof, and make sure you have it down to the bone. If not, skip for now, but make a note of it and get back to it when mathematical ability is improved.
12) Repeat the steps for all the other sections until the entire chapter is done.
13) Review
14) Read up articles related to the chapter
15) Smile, because you now have a very firm understanding of the chapter you just covered.
 
When you learn a derivation in Physics, or a definition, or a law, ask yourself questions all the time: Can I think of an example where this applies? Why is this phrase included in the definition? What would happen if...? Make up simple examples and apply the theory to them. This takes practice, but once you get good at it your understanding of Physics improves and you find yourself better able to do problems - because you've already forced yourself to think about specific cases, rather than just about generalities.