The Secrets to Succeeding in a Physics Course

Hello everyone, I hope your first week of classes went well!


I thought I'd lend some advice from personal experience on dealing with a course like Physics.
The following list is a simple guide of 10 steps to help you succeed with your PHYS 111 course; this stuff is golden! This kind of list would sell like candy on infomercials. Make use of it.

1. Don't skip class! That's the worst thing you can do. Once you start skipping class, it becomes a habit. Physics isn't a course where you can slack off and expect an A. Even missing one session can harm you. The topics you cover each day are going to be completely new to you, and a course like Physics isn't so easy to comprehend or learn without the aid of an instructor. It's not some English course where you can miss a week and still get an easy A.

2. Do your homework! It's best to begin your homework on the same night you took notes on the subject matter; waiting one day is fine as well. Don't leave your homework till the last minute. Your mind will not perform magic tricks to recall the information you learned from the week before. Trust me, I've done it and I have paid for it. On top of that, practice makes perfect. If you consistently do your homework then you will begin to absorb the material and be more prepared for the exams.

3. Study in a quiet and relaxed environment. Concentration is key to problem solving for a physics course. If you go to the library, get away from the noise (even though there shouldn't be any noise to begin with). Music may help, but it doesn't apply for everyone. I usually play classical music from Beethoven and Bach when I study. Hard rock or heavy metal just gives me the urge to head bang instead of thinking.

4. If you are struggling on a problem, move on and come back later. Some people get into the habit of staying on one problem until they solve it, even if it takes hours. If they don't get it done, they quit. Don't let that happen to you. Move on and see if you can solve the following problems, they may even lead to a hint or idea on solving the previous problem.

5. Seek help if you are stuck. There are tutors in the library that are there for you! Your professor has office hours as well; she's there to help you. Sadly I'm not one of the tutors, but I am willing to help. I am on a bit of a schedule, but I always enjoy helping others. I spend most of my life in the library so you are bound to run into me.

6. Stay motivated and keep a positive attitude! The reason why you hear stories of people failing their physics course is because of their lack of motivation and attitude towards the subject matter. Stay positive. Even if you happen to fail your first exam, it's not over. Keep your head up high and continue on. Look over your mistakes and work on them. I know exactly what you are all going through, I went through it and still do once in a while.

7. Manage your time. Prepare a schedule for your course (not just physics, but all of them). Set some time throughout the week on when to begin your homework, how much of it to accomplish, and so forth. Split your assignments up into small parts. Some of the assignments I work on take days to complete...maybe weeks. You need to let your mind rest, too much physics will drive you up the wall. I usually feel like jumping off a cliff after working on one physics problem for 4 hours (and still not solving it). Don't worry I won't really do it, so please don't call the police, I'm very sane...kind of.

8. Work in groups! That's right, work in groups. I tend to work in groups a lot more often now than ever before. Two minds are better than one. Five minds are MUCH better than one. One person may come up with an idea while another person comes up with the other one to compliment the first, then BAM, you got it. An example:
"Yo dude, we can use equation 4.1b for that kind of motion."-Peter
"Oh check this out, this variable becomes zero because of so and so."-Brandon
"WHOAH! We can combine these two equations and come up with the solution!"-Ashley
"HOORAY!"-Everyone
This happens on a near daily basis. But just because I suggest working in groups does not mean you can cheat! As you all know, cheating may lead to a road you don't want to follow. DON'T DO IT!

9. Take notes. Aww what a bummer, notes? Well you're in college, deal with it. Your notes are the guide to successfully competing your work. Don't be sloppy, keep everything organized and in order. Don't fall asleep in class or doodle when you're bored, you will miss out on very important information. There's a reason coffee was invented. It's tough to catch up when you fall behind.

10. Study the in text examples. The book is your ultimate resource. The pretty pictures and endless text are there for a reason. The examples are a great lead into the chapter discussions and end chapter problems. I sometimes rely on these examples when my notes don't lead me to the right path. And reading the chapter gives you an upper hand in grasping the greater concepts of the topics. Understanding the 'why' will get you more interested in the subject. This will assist with the 'how' portion for the problems.

And that's it. I can make a book out of this and make millions, but it will serve its purpose as a guide for your physics course. It's free of charge! I really hope this list will help guide you through the semester. I have followed these rules since the beginning of my studies in the field of mathematics and physics. They worked and still do.

Now my question to you is this: What are you expecting out of this blog? What will make you want to come back and check on updates? I would hope that you all come in and check the blog at least 3 times a week. I was expecting more posts on the first blogs since this is such a huge class; I'm not sure if this direction we are heading in is too boring for some people. I don't want you to get into the attitude of checking your blog because it's part of your grade. I want you to visit the blog because you are interested in it and/or enjoying it.

Thanks everyone, have a great week!

-Peter PdeC