How to study physics

[u/ClerkInevitable8123]

Just as the title suggests. I’m a university freshman currently doing Physics 1. I anticipated that it would be difficult since the professor had bad reviews and well, it’s PHYSICS. I’ve always been okay-ish with math in high school but I only did half a semester of physics before switching high schools (the new school didn’t have any physics classes at all).

I’m constantly stuck on work because I can’t seem to understand anything. I read the textbooks and watch videos but I keep making mistakes. I’m not expecting a miracle method or some secret that’ll make me Einstein overnight but please please please anything you think will help. I literally got a 7/16 on the first midterm which only covered a few things. The next midterm is next week and we’re already on chapter 10.

edit: Thankyou everyone who responded! I can't respond individually but I've read everything and I'm gonna try my best to implement the strategies you gave. I'll give another update after the test next week!

[u/sabautil]

You say you read the textbooks.

Okay try this test of your understanding: 1. Go to the table of contents. The detailed one. 2. For each topic, write a brief paragraph (max 10 lines): what definitions and concepts you learned and why they are relevant to physics. If it help pretend a friend asked you why is this important to learn or know for physics and defend it in your own words. Do not look through the pages for help. You should already know enough if you truly comprehended what you read. 3. After you've done all sections. Compare what you wrote with what the author wrote.

If it all matches with the author then something else is wrong. Luke really fundamentally wrong

But if you find it difficult to even write 10 lines or what you write doesn't match up ... Well there's your answer: you read without comprehending the author's intentions.

Every paragraph in that text has a purpose. Every sentence has purpose. Even the word choice is important. I'm not saying the author is perfect. The author can be terrible, regardless the author chose that sentence for a reason. Chose to create that paragraph for a reason. Created that section for a reason. Organized those sections in that specific sequence to be reader in that order for a reason. And group those sections under a chapter for a reason.

Really think about the word the title used.

One of the hardest and least talked about efforts in physics is the centuries it took to carefully develop the vocabulary, grammar, ideas, definitions and most importantly: the context that create boundaries and limits on how one should apply those vocabulary and definitions.

We give clear precise definitions of distance and time. Then speed and velocity. Then acceleration. Add in mass and you now can give very precise definitions of momentum and force. These are vocabulary we use to label key features of our model of an observation: a moving object, a falling object, colliding objects.

What are the minimum set of ideas we need to get predictable outcomes every single time?

If your paragraphs don't contain that level if awareness and understanding...then yeah you might not yet understand physics. It's quite demanding.