Learning Physics for the 1st time

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SUMMARY

The discussion emphasizes the importance of intuitive understanding in learning physics from scratch, particularly for high school students. Key strategies include teaching concepts to others for better comprehension, applying physics concepts to real-life scenarios, and solving diverse problems efficiently. It is essential to have a solid foundation in mathematics, specifically algebra and trigonometry, and to review these topics if necessary. For those familiar with calculus, starting with a first-year physics textbook like "University Physics" is recommended.

PREREQUISITES
  • Algebra and Trigonometry knowledge
  • Basic understanding of Calculus
  • Familiarity with conceptual learning techniques
  • Problem-solving skills in physics contexts
NEXT STEPS
  • Review Algebra and Trigonometry concepts
  • Study Calculus fundamentals
  • Read "University Physics" for foundational physics concepts
  • Practice teaching physics concepts to others for deeper understanding
USEFUL FOR

High school students, educators, and anyone interested in building a strong foundation in physics concepts and problem-solving techniques.

tictac123
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Hello,

I'm in high school;last year.

And I'm wondering what is the best approach to learn physics from scratch, I've forgotten most of the ideas behind physics.

cheers
 
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Cool! I am a senior too!

Well, I would say the best idea is to understand physics at an intuitive level (assuming you aren't taking quantum physics or above). I personally think that if you are able to teach and explain the concept to a non-physics person, then you have a pretty good understanding. Physics is very conceptual-base, you need to understand the concept.

Then, apply the concepts to real life (which can be fun). You will gain a much deeper understanding (and appreciation) for physics.

Lastly, do problems. I am not saying do the same problem over and over again, that is just boring and tedious. I personally do a type of problem, if I can get it under x amount of time (and have no troubles), then I proceed onto another type of problem.

And most importantly, have fun! Physics is not suppose to be boring, if you think it's boring...then you need to 1. do less problems 2. understand the deeper aspects of physics.


I hope I made sense. Lol.
 
The first step to learning physics is learning the math (I'm guessing that the physics course you took in high school was algebra-trig physics, but it wasn't, then you just need to review that). If you haven't learned calculus, you'll need to. If you have, you can start with a first year physics textbook like University Physics.
 

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