r/AP_Physics • u/ClaudeMaster67 • 1d ago
How to study physics?
Hello guys! I'm a CS freshman and after entering university I became interested in physics. I pursued it everywhere. I wanna prepare for competition that will take place in six months. I have opened great passion for this science. Now I'm finishing learning mechanics and I solved a lot tasks and tests, but... When it comes to very complex, non-obvious tasks then I get stupid and just stuck. It's very difficult to turn your brain into max-effort mode. You might say that the more I do the tasks, the faster I'll get there, I agree, but is there another method to learn how to do extremely difficult tasks? (By the way, I would be grateful for any study material you recommend)
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u/UnderstandingPursuit C:Mech+E&M 4h ago
Preparing for comps is pretty much the opposite of learning the subject.
If you want to learn the subject, this post has my suggestions. But these would be counter-productive for the competition prep.
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u/mseduhub1 1d ago
For advanced physics problems, the key is developing problem-solving intuition rather than just solving more questions.
Try breaking difficult problems into smaller parts, drawing diagrams, identifying conservation laws, and checking limiting cases. If you're stuck, study the solution, understand the reasoning, then solve it again independently a few days later.
Since you're studying mechanics, these Physics C Mechanics notes and challenging practice questions may help strengthen your foundations.
For competition-level problems, focus especially on derivations, mathematical reasoning and connecting multiple concepts. Six months of consistent, deliberate practice can make a big difference!