No Physics Intuition? Tips for Introductory Mechanics

[fluffy123]

Hi,

I'm currently taking Introductory Mechanics, and the more I progress into this class, the more I realize that I have no intuition when it comes to relating physics to real life.

The actual class is pretty easy for me, but the lab is killing me. The hardest questions for me are "What happens when you do X to an object?"

Do you guys think I should rethink my decision to become an engineer and go the Math/CS route?

Thanks.

 

[johng23]

You can develop your intuition. If everything was going to be easy for you, you wouldn't need to go to school. Don't change majors because you're worried about this, only if you're not INTERESTED in developing physical intuition.I was never too great at understanding labs in high school or undergrad. I'm doing a PhD now though, and I think I'm doing perfectly fine at research. The lab thing comes easily to some people, others need to really work at it before getting what it's all about.

 

[fluffy123]

You can develop your intuition. If everything was going to be easy for you, you wouldn't need to go to school. Don't change majors because you're worried about this, only if you're not INTERESTED in developing physical intuition.

Thanks for the quick response.

It's not that I don't have interest in doing so. It's just that I come from a low income family and I really don't want to take any risks because my decision will affect my whole family.

Have you ever known anyone who was absolutely horrible at engineering first, then turned out to be great later? Just wondering.

 

[Fizex]

I use to have no physics intuition either. I remember having extreme difficulty solving and visualizing static force problems such as tension in a lamp hanging from two ropes. I overcame that by doing tons of problems and following numerous examples. Then everything became clearer to me, not only because I had memorized procedure, but I could now understand how forces worked. No one is born knowing physics, you just have to work through it.

I don't really understand your example of "X to an object". That's really vague so we can't help you there.

 

[flyingpig]

I think it's better to have none than to have wrong ones...

I have intuition, but most of them are usualyl wrong lol

 

[johng23]

Have you ever known anyone who was absolutely horrible at engineering first, then turned out to be great later? Just wondering.

But you're not horrible, you said the class was easy for you.

If you give more specific examples of what you have issues with, we may be able to give advice. I had some issues with understanding labs early on, but I have no idea whether they bear any similarity to your issues.

 

[DaveC426913]

I was going to say the same thing as flying pig.

Intuition leads to preconceptions. The best scientists realize that they know nothing, only the data knows!

 

[Klockan3]

I was going to say the same thing as flying pig.

Intuition leads to preconceptions. The best scientists realize that they know nothing, only the data knows!

With that approach science would never have gotten anywhere. A scientist without intuition is a glorified calculator and lab robot.

Edit: But of course none can do away with all of their intuition, I just wanted to point out that it isn't something that you would want to discard just like that.