Welcome to Stick Physics
Are you a student in a high school or a college level physics class? Do you find yourself struggling to understand the concepts, lectures, and problems in the class? Well you have come to the right site, Stick Physics is being designed with you in mind. This is a collection of information, discussions, problem solving advice, and study guidelines that have been collected from over 18 years of teaching and tutoring experience.
Warning: Beware of dust, this site is Under Construction. This is a work in progress, and I will be posting topics as time permits.
My background:
When I started my physics career I did not know anything about physics. I signed up for AP Physics while in high school and was lucky to make it through with a passing grade. I knew I had an interest in physics, but the class lectures and problems could have been in Latin for the sense that they made to me. I was scared to take my first College level physics class, I started to look through the book and it all looked so alien to me. So how did I get from there to a B.S. in Physics with a 4.0? Let me share with you some of my secrets:
1. I redid the prerequisite math classes.
My algebra was good, but I realized that I did not really learn trigonometry and calculus properly in high school.
Physics was not taught in Latin, but it does rely heavily on mathematics. It is very important to have a good comfort level with algebra and trigonometry if you are taking a College Physics or high school physics class. You should also be very comfortable with the first Calculus class before taking the University or engineering level physics class.
2. I attended class.
Seems simple, but so many students do not understand the importance of the class lectures and discussions. This is the time to ask questions about what does not make sense to you. This is the time to learn more about problem solving and conceptual issues. Not to mention being there for the assignments, in class work, and quizzes.
3. I read the book.
I did not speed read, I did not skim through for main ideas. Physics is not like most of the other classes you have taken. I read each section carefully. I made questioin mark notes next to anything I did not understand. I looked at the example problems, then tried to do them on my own without looking at the solution. I did these things before I heard the class lecture on each topic. That way I was already familiar with this new topic, and was prepared with questions about the confusing parts.
(I have seen many student errors that stem from small confusions. Since physics will build on your knowledge, those holes can undermine your entire foundation.)
4. I practiced.
As with any skill in life, you have to practice to get good at it. I found it very helpful to redo the problems in the chapter and the problems from class first, because if I got stuck I could always look at the next step. When I studied for the exams, I would do the same thing with my homework problems.
5. I took notes.
Sitting back in class and just listening is fine if you are auditing the course, but if you are trying to make a good grade, you should take notes. If you already read the chapter and have your questions ready, this will cut down on what you need to write in your notes and help you focus on the issues that are important to you.
6. I learned very quickly that Physics is not a class of memorization.
Physics is all about problem solving and understanding concepts. Anyone can memorize Newton’s Laws, but it takes real engagement and thought to learn how to use them. Most classes will not test your ability to memorize, they will test your ability to apply what you have learned. That means you are likely to see 'new problems' on your exams. These are not about new concepts and ideas, but about new ways to apply what you learned. (Hoops anyone? If an inhabitant of a cylindrical space station with 'artificial gravity' wants to shoot hoops, which way should she toss the ball? Does it depend on the direction she is facing? Does it depend on the radius of the station? On the rate of rotation? Note- the artificial gravity is produced by the rotation of the station about the axis parallel to the cylindrical floor that passes through the center.). Have you ever thought about this problem before? Once you master physics, you should have the skills needed to answer questions like this.
7. Physics is all about details.
Just like in math, you need to pay attention to the small details or they will cause you great difficulty.
8. Physics is all about how the universe works.
We all started studying physics in infancy, but our amateur conclusions were not always correct. (Did you ever wonder why it is easier to stay balanced on top a bicycle while it is moving, but very easy to fall over if it is not moving?) To study physics is to study how the universe really works, and it is often very surprising, mysterious, and intriguing. I learned very quickly to let go of my incorrect concepts and keep my mind open.
So if you are ready to step out of the box and try a new way of thinking, then you are ready to start into the wonderful world of Physics!