Best Way to Learn Physics on Your Own!

Physics deals with the study of all physical phenomena occurring in the universe, including matter, energy, and fundamental forces of nature. It primarily emphasises the properties and behaviour of matter and its motion across time and space.

As a subject, it focuses a lot on solving problems which you may find challenging as a learner. But a strategic way to teach yourself Physics can be both enjoyable and rewarding, which this blog aims to make you confident about. Let’s look at some effective methods.

Best Ways to Learn Physics on Your Own

1. Observe the World Around You

Before diving into the study of theories, develop the right mindset to learn Physics. Physics deals with the study of all kinds of matter and their motion under forces, in the world around you.

Pay attention to the objects inside your room, and outside your window. Observing the surroundings, and asking questions to yourself regarding why certain things are happening in a certain way, puts you in the right frame of mind to learn physics.

2. Device a Strategy to Study

If you are struggling to figure out how to self-study physics, give yourself some time to chalk out a plan. It is essential to devise a clear and structured strategy, before diving into reading theory.

Consider ensuring the following:

• Find a quiet place to study, to cut off all kinds of distractions.
• Set specific learning goals and objectives.
• Skim through your textbook or study material to outline the topics you want to cover and the concepts you wish to master.
• Break down larger topics into smaller, manageable chunks.
• Use a variety of resources from books, online materials, video lectures or tutorials.
• You can also consider taking online courses.

3. Set Up a Daily Study Routine

Consistency is key to getting better at anything you pursue, and self-studying physics is no exception. Establish a daily study routine to help yourself stay organised, focused, and motivated. Structure your daily study routine in the following way.

• Fix time slots for each day to study different topics, and solve related problems.
• Set realistic goals for each study session and track your progress regularly.
• Remember to take breaks and allow yourself time to revise and reflect on the material you are learning.

4. Master the Basics

You need to strengthen your foundational knowledge of the basic concepts, before raking up more advanced ones. Remember to ensure the following.

• Take ample time to thoroughly understand fundamental topics like mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and optics.
• Focus on key principles, laws, and equations. Clear your concepts by applying them to real-world situations.
• Practice drawing diagrams while solving problems. This helps immensely in visualising and relating the theoretical problem with the real world. Problems on topics of force, electricity, and magnetism are easier to solve with the help of diagrams.
• Apart from thoroughly learning the theory, look for ways to conduct experiments, and explore practical applications of physics in everyday life. This helps in visualising physical phenomena and improves conceptual understanding.

5. Take up an Online Course

Online courses are a recommendable way to learn physics at your own pace. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy offer a wide range of physics courses taught by expert instructors from top universities around the world. Remember to make use of every facility the courses offer.

Below are some tips that can help you get the maximum benefits from these courses:

• Select courses that align with your learning goals and interests
• Online courses offer interactive quizzes and assignments. Make sure to participate and practice.
• Clarify your doubts from community forums by engaging with instructors and fellow learners. The more you ask questions and engage with fellow learners, the more ideas you get.

6. Memorise Important Formulas

While understanding concepts is crucial, memorising important formulae is equally beneficial for solving problems quickly and efficiently. You can use the following strategies to memorise.

• Create flashcards or cheat sheets containing essential equations, constants, and units. Review regularly to remember them permanently.
• Practice deriving formulae from first principles. Apply them to solve problems in different contexts.
• Focus on understanding the underlying principles behind each formula rather than by-heart memorisation. This will ensure an in-depth comprehension and enable you to apply them more effectively.

7. Solve Lots of Practice Problems

Practice is key when it comes to mastering physics. Ensure you thoroughly practice problems after completing each chapter/topic. Start with solving simpler problems, and gradually progress towards more complex ones.

Following this process builds up confidence. Ensure conceptual, numerical, and application-based problems for all-round development. Soon you will find yourself in a confident state of proficiency.

8. Try Teaching a Concept to Your Friend

Teaching a concept to someone else (preferably your study partner) is a great way to verify your learning. It helps in recalling and revising concepts. You unconsciously end up practising more, resulting in a stronger grasp of the topic.

However, if you find it difficult to explain, you can always revise the topic in more detail. Often, input from your study partner helps to come out of bottlenecks while solving problems.

Conclusion

Embarking on the journey to teach yourself physics can be a rewarding experience, once you are driven by the thirst to learn, and the patience to establish consistent and strategic study habits. Experiencing a learning curve is one of the most satisfying feelings to reward yourself with, and a subject like physics sucks you into its unfathomable depths and mysteries. This blog offers you the necessary details so that you are in a much more confident place to start this journey of self-learning.

Share this post:

MyPrivateTutor Team

MyPrivateTutor is an online community of school teachers and private tutors who come together to share their work, knowledge and rich experience with students to help them prepare well and excel in their exams. We help connect students to tutors in their locality. Students search for tutors and tutors pay a lead generation fee to contact the students and start taking lessons either in-person or online. We have been operating since 2002 and operate in Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, US, UK, UAE, India, and many other countries.