How to Succeed in Studying Physics

This video talks about the mentality needed in order to do well as a physics major.

[niyatishah]

You don't learn physics by solving a problem and getting it right, you learn physics by seeing how many ways there are to get it wrong!!!! Loovvveeee it!!

[adriatikllugiqi]

My summary of the technique:
1. Choose the concept you want to understand
2. Take a blank piece of paper, write the name of that concept at the top of the page
3. Explain the idea to yourself as if you were teaching it to someone who does not understand it at all
4. Whenever you get stuck, go back to the reference material, lectures or a teacher assistant and re-read or re-learn the material until you get it enough that you can explain it on the paper
5. Whenever you write down a wordy or a confusing explanation for something, try either to simplify the language, or create an analogy to understand it better
(6. If you want to understand something even better or remember it even better, further try to develop, simplify and improve the explanation)
(7. A good self-test of what you've learned is to go through your technique without looking at any reference material at any point and see if you can explain it deeply)

[AlchemistOfNirnroot]

I love how we mock engineers from the comfort of being within a building.

[jessstuart]

What really sucks is when you don't have the time or mental energy to dig into the subject and obtain a deep understanding. Instead, you find yourself memorizing formulas and homework solution methods, learning to use the software tools, struggling your way through projects, wasting time doing document formatting and generating images for reports, and cramming for exams, ultimately forgetting 90% of what you "learned" two semesters later. Learning under intense time pressure was my biggest obstacle in school. I had to cut my schedule back to about 12 credit hours per semester once I started getting into the upper level electrical engineering classes. I would buy the textbooks a semester early, and begin reading them ahead of time just so I could devote more time to projects. Having to apply concepts to a project before you have had adequate time to digest them, for me, was super stressful.

[beckysmisery.]

You know what? You are absolutely fucking correct. Especially about the be honest with yourself part. I've noticed I make myself think I know what I'm doing because my notes are beautiful and I can follow along and copy down formulas but really? Only half of it I can do without reference. So thank you very much, I'm going to be working a lot harder now.

[starship]

Thanks for the video, it was helpful and gave me a better idea of what kind of mentality I should have going into my Physics major this fall.

[Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

I am a (she) physics professor. This is going on my intro physics course homepages. Excellent, thorough advice. And not just for studying physics.

[ForeverExplosive]

What helps me is to build a relationship with the professor, so that I don’t feel afraid or discouraged to ask a question, followed with another, and another lol. Spending time after class if they have a few minutes to chat is the best way for me, and even talking about other ways these things we learn can be seen in other fields, and the applications of them.

[shiroshiro]

Go for a walk when something in the homework trouble you, you will find peace. After that, we are still in trouble.

[StarCatz]

So here's the thing. I'm in grade 10 and last semester we learned about physics and I absolutely despised. But now, I'm trying to brainwash my self into tolerating, of even enjoying because the fact that there is something that I'm shaky with disturbs be, because I know if I put in the time and effort I would do well. Even though I don't understand a word that comes out of your mouth when talking about physics, I actually really enjoy them and I'm getting excited to do physics next year. Thank you so much 🙏

[CommentingOnThisVid]

Lookin like an absolute snacc in that shirt

[mikehughes]

I see the resemblance between you and Albert. I was a math major and did ok, but struggled in physics. I think I lacked confidence. Thanks to your videos, I'm understanding it now. And the humor helps too.

[the_mastermage]

This kind of thinking is probably absolutely correct for someone who is no longer an undergrad but for undergrads espacially in the beginning this thinking would be very demotivating imagine you just started studying physics you have this one question that you find realy hard so you get yourself together dive into the matter and after a long way of picking some informations here and there you finally get a solution and then you just feel great and i argue with that kind of thinking in that particular case you would be ok i did it but i didnt understand so it is not good and i cant think of anything more demotivating than that. Because it is important that even small steps even small achievements are important for getting your hopes up that you are atleast able to do a bit

[Drderp-hdbb]

I want to do Physics more than anything in the world but I'm terrified of failing! Sad I know. My motivation is there but my math is nowhere near the level.

[jonathanpadilla]

Awesome tips! Im majoring in traditional physics, just finished Mechanics, I’ll be taking electromagnetism next quarter. Thank you so much!

[kaga]

Schaum's Outlines, that and learning from multiple textbooks. Disagree about not looking at examples though, what you described is what back of the chapter problems are for.

[mukundyadav]

DAMN bruhhh, look at you.
You've come a long way

[cosmicscattering]

Andrew I would be interested in a more detailed description of your study habits. How do you manage your time on assignments?

[tmann]

Love how I’m starting university physics 1 and this is in my recommended! Thanks!

[zxtek]

Let's be honest there are two types of learning for physics college and personal. Personal is better since you can pace yourself and appreciate the beauty of the calculation and how the world works. College physics, on the other hand, is not for everyone because the system is designed to weed out people already plus all the other bureaucracy bs you have to deal.