I'm sad that I don't understand physics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of understanding Newton's law of gravity and the associated mathematical concepts. Participants express their struggles with the material, share personal experiences, and offer encouragement while exploring the nature of learning physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration with understanding the concept that an object at rest exerts the same force as an object in freefall, feeling lost with the math involved.
  • Another participant reassures that physics is not intuitive for everyone and emphasizes that it can be learned over time, suggesting persistence in studying the subject.
  • A participant explains that the force exerted by an object in a gravitational field is constant regardless of its state of motion, highlighting the distinction between objects at rest and those in freefall.
  • Some participants share their own experiences of struggling with physics concepts and encourage the original poster to not give up, noting that understanding often requires time and repeated exposure to the material.
  • There is a suggestion that finding a different area of interest might be beneficial, although this is met with resistance from the original poster who wishes to continue pursuing physics despite frustrations.
  • One participant mentions that it may take multiple readings or discussions to fully grasp a concept, indicating the non-linear nature of learning in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of learning physics and the importance of persistence. However, there are competing views on whether to continue pursuing physics or to explore other interests, leaving the discussion somewhat unresolved regarding the best path forward for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that understanding physics concepts often requires a solid foundation in mathematics, which may not be immediately accessible. There is also mention of the emotional aspect of learning and the impact of personal circumstances on one's educational journey.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals struggling with physics concepts, particularly those who feel discouraged by their understanding of the material or are considering their future in the field.

Yayfordoritos
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I just read the book understanding gravity and I tried to do the math problems in them Newtons law of gravity f=ma and I got completely lost. I didn't understand what he meant by an object at rest exerts the same amount of force as an object falling. I didn't understand the math about it. I guess I'm just not cut out for this, and I should just learn my place. I want to be a physicists but I guess I'm just going to have to be satisfied being a struggling single mom, with no passion.
 
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Yayfordoritos said:
I just read the book understanding gravity and I tried to do the math problems in them Newtons law of gravity f=ma and I got completely lost. I didn't understand what he meant by an object at rest exerts the same amount of force as an object falling. I didn't understand the math about it. I guess I'm just not cut out for this, and I should just learn my place. I want to be a physicists but I guess I'm just going to have to be satisfied being a struggling single mom, with no passion.
It's not for everyone, so don't let it get to you. Find something that you are good at.
 
Keep your chin up! I'm no physicist, but as I understand it, an object in a gravitational field exerts a force in the direction of the field proportional to it's mass and the acceleration due to gravity, so for a 10kg mass sitting somewhere on Earth the force is equal to 10kg * 9.8ms/s = 98 Newtons.

Notice that when calculating this force there is no reference to the objects velocity, so whether it is at rest, or moving, the force applied to the object is the same, 98 Newtons in the direction of the gravitational field, which is towards the center of the Earth's mass.

The difference is that an object in freefall, for example, will continue accelerating because there is no opposing force to slow it (ignoring air resistance), but an object on the ground has an equal and opposite force applied to it causing it to remain 'at rest' and not fall through the ground.

Maybe I fluffed a few things but it's important to take the equation for what it is, a force measure, it's not measuring how much you think you weigh while freefalling, it's measuring the force applied to a body due to gravity.
 
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Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I did the same thing before I took a physics course and felt a bit 'confuttled' after reading it. I didn't have the skill of reading the English language and translating it into math. It's a skill that can be acquired so don't give up. Heck I failed my first physics course ever, but after some time I learned from my mistake and ended up passing every course afterward.

So with that said, my general advice is to spend more time learning math and reading physics. Ask questions here and always remember everyone has struggled somewhere along their career path.
 
Looking back, it took me quite a long time to understand those Newton equations so I had to practice to a lot. Even after my high school physics, I still didn't understand them that much. It wasn't just me but all my classmates too, our first year class midterm average was 15-30% even though midterm covered only these motion and force equations. But more time we spent with them, more comfortable we got.

You wouldn't understand things just by reading a chapter unless you are superwoman. It takes time :smile:
 
Oh, I just thought maybe she'd find something else she excelled at.

Nevermind.
 
Adyssa said:
Keep your chin up! I'm no physicist, but as I understand it, an object in a gravitational field exerts a force in the direction of the field proportional to it's mass and the acceleration due to gravity, so for a 10kg mass sitting somewhere on Earth the force is equal to 10kg * 9.8ms/s = 98 Newtons.

Notice that when calculating this force there is no reference to the objects velocity, so whether it is at rest, or moving, the force applied to the object is the same, 98 Newtons in the direction of the gravitational field, which is towards the center of the Earth's mass.

The difference is that an object in freefall, for example, will continue accelerating because there is no opposing force to slow it (ignoring air resistance), but an object on the ground has an equal and opposite force applied to it causing it to remain 'at rest' and not fall through the ground.

Maybe I fluffed a few things but it's important to take the equation for what it is, a force measure, it's not measuring how much you think you weigh while freefalling, it's measuring the force applied to a body due to gravity.


So I think I understand somewhat. When an object is at rest it uses the the same amount of force as when it's falling unless you put pressure on that object. For instance I just slapped someone recently, before people go off I had every right to slap this chic, I will explain it later. My hand had force behind it so it accelarated the speed which made it hurt more. I don't want go get kicked off so I will explain the slap.
 
Yayfordoritos said:
I just read the book understanding gravity and I tried to do the math problems in them Newtons law of gravity f=ma and I got completely lost. I didn't understand what he meant by an object at rest exerts the same amount of force as an object falling. I didn't understand the math about it. I guess I'm just not cut out for this, and I should just learn my place. I want to be a physicists but I guess I'm just going to have to be satisfied being a struggling single mom, with no passion.
Wanting to be something, e.g., physicist, indicates something of a passion.

Physics is not readily intuitive for many folks, but it can be learned over time.

Hyperphysics provides a nice and relatively simple background covering many concepts.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/newt.html

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

PF is also a good place to learn.
 
Yayfordoritos said:
I just read the book understanding gravity and I tried to do the math problems in them Newtons law of gravity f=ma and I got completely lost. I didn't understand what he meant by an object at rest exerts the same amount of force as an object falling. I didn't understand the math about it. I guess I'm just not cut out for this, and I should just learn my place. I want to be a physicists but I guess I'm just going to have to be satisfied being a struggling single mom, with no passion.
When you find the next thing to be passionate about, will you give up on it too at the first difficulty?
 
  • #10
Jimmy Snyder said:
When you find the next thing to be passionate about, will you give up on it too at the first difficulty?


No I'm sticking with this, I was just frustrated and wanted to vent.
 
  • #11
You can forever expand your understanding, even if it's by small increments. Don't give up.

You may need to read about or listen to or discuss a concept in 10 or more places before you understand it.

You may have to read listen/discuss it more than once.

You may not understand it until you are done reading, perhaps while you are doing something else.
 

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