Struggling in Dynamics Class? Learn from MIT's Expert Videos and Ace Your Exams!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around challenges faced by an undergraduate mechanical engineering student struggling with Dynamics class. Participants explore various approaches to understanding the subject, including the use of online resources, problem-solving strategies, and theoretical foundations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster expresses difficulty in Dynamics, feeling that the textbook lacks clarity and that they struggle to grasp the underlying theory.
  • Some participants suggest that working through more problems could lead to a better understanding of the theory.
  • One participant recommends trying the MIT video lectures as a potential resource for better comprehension.
  • Another participant advises utilizing office hours for additional support.
  • There is a suggestion to conduct further research on the theoretical aspects of Dynamics, as some fundamental theories may not be well explained in the course materials.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience through projects to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of problem-solving and seeking additional resources, but there is no consensus on the best approach to take or the effectiveness of specific resources like the MIT videos.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the textbook may not adequately explain fundamental theories, and there is an acknowledgment of the challenges posed by the original poster's learning style and ADHD.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for undergraduate students in engineering or physics who are struggling with Dynamics or similar courses, as well as those seeking alternative learning resources and strategies.

maysenator
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OK shot in the dark here but here is my question prefaced with a small back-story.

Im a undergrad in mechanical engineering program. I am currently having a bit of trouble in Dynamics class. A lot of people who are much smarter than me say its nothing more than applied physics. Like some guys in class don't do any of the homework problems and still get good marks on the exams. (only grades in the class are 6 small exams) while i struggle to take notes from my book and work the problems.

The reason i ask here instead of my prof. is he is like 70 years old, sweet old guy with like 20 patents and knows way more than anyone should but he's just kind of old and slow now, our classes are like 50 mins long and he can't finish a problem during a class so no one asks anymore. So i can't learn anything from the actual class, just what i can manage to teach myself.

Should i stop focusing on the book and the equations and try to brush up on physics? I have only completed one semester of calc based physics.

Would any of the MIT videos on physics be helpful to me? there are so many i don't know where to start.

Or just stick to the book and keep trying? I feel like I am missing something. The engineering dynamics book does not really explain anything its more like..

this is this, that's that and this is the equation.. I think I am a pretty smart guy, but i have ADHD and just can't do things when i do not understand the general theory behind what I am doing. memorizing equations do nothing for me.

WHAT?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
work more problems, they coalesce into a better understanding of theory
try the video lectures, and see if they help
but yah, work more problems. you should aim to be doing 4-6 hours of academic work every day
 
You could also try office hours
 
I suggest you to utilize internet search engine and read up more about the theoretical part. I understand the feeling of "missing something", but if you look closer, a lot of the fundamental theory are missing and not well explained. Most are built up from experimental data and proven hypothesis which are arguable if you manage to get different experimental result.

For engineering part, I believe in working on projects. Through hand-ons experience, you can apply what you have learn in class and realize the gaps between real life and classroom. A lot of problems encountered are not well documented anywhere and you need to try hard to get pieces of information from everywhere.
 

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