Is It Normal to Struggle With Physics?

If you're struggling with physics, you're far from the only student who finds the subject difficult. Physics requires you to combine conceptual thinking, problem-solving, and math, often within a single question.

You may need to understand the scientific concept, recognize which information matters, choose the right equation, use your math skills correctly, and determine whether your final answer makes sense.

That can make physics challenging even for students who normally do well in math and science.

When we work with students who are having trouble with physics, we don't assume they aren't good at the subject. Instead, we try to identify exactly where they're getting stuck. Once you know what's causing the difficulty, physics can become much more manageable.

Why Is Physics So Hard?

Physics is different from subjects where studying primarily means remembering information.

Knowing a formula is useful, but physics problems rarely tell you exactly how to use it. You might learn an equation in class and successfully complete several practice problems, only to encounter a homework question that describes a completely different situation and expects you to recognize that the same principle applies.

That ability to take something you've learned and apply it to a new situation is a major part of physics.

It's also one of the reasons students can feel like they understand physics during a lesson but struggle when working independently.

What We See Students Struggle With Most in Physics

When we work with students who are struggling with physics, the difficulty isn't always the physics itself.

Sometimes a student understands the concept but gets stuck when they have to rearrange an equation, work with vectors, use trigonometry, or complete several mathematical steps in the correct order.

Other students are comfortable with the math but have trouble determining which physics principle applies to a particular problem.

That's an important distinction.

We try to identify where the problem-solving process is breaking down. Is the student struggling to understand the physics concept? Do they have trouble figuring out which equation to use? Are they making mistakes once the math begins?

Once we identify the source of the difficulty, we can focus on that specific skill instead of treating every wrong answer as a general problem with physics.

Sometimes the Problem Is Actually the Math

Physics regularly requires students to use skills from Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and, at more advanced levels, Calculus.

You might understand exactly what is happening to an object physically but still get stuck rearranging an equation or working with vectors.

When we see this happening, simply reviewing the physics lesson again isn't always the best solution.

It may make more sense to go back and strengthen the underlying math skill.

For example, a student might understand the relationship described by a physics equation but repeatedly get the wrong answer because they're having trouble isolating a variable. Once that Algebra skill improves, an entire category of physics problems may become easier.

Physics Requires You to Think About Things You Cannot Always See

Many physics concepts involve things that are difficult to visualize.

You cannot see gravity acting on an object. You cannot directly see an electric field. Forces, energy, momentum, waves, and other concepts are often represented using diagrams, graphs, equations, and models.

Students have to learn how those representations relate to what is physically happening.

One technique we recommend is drawing the situation before immediately reaching for an equation.

If you're working on a forces problem, sketch the object and the forces acting on it. If the problem involves motion, indicate the direction of travel. If you're working with vectors, represent them visually.

Turning the description into something you can see can make it easier to determine what the problem is actually asking you to solve.

Physics Builds on What You Learned Earlier

Physics is cumulative.

A concept you learned several weeks or months ago may suddenly become important again in a new unit.

If you never completely understood vectors, for example, that weakness can create problems when you encounter more complicated questions involving forces or motion.

The same thing happens with math. Weaknesses in Algebra can follow you through an entire physics course because so many problems require manipulating equations.

When a student suddenly begins struggling with a new physics unit, we often look backward as well as forward.

There may be an earlier concept or math skill that needs to be strengthened before the new material will make sense.

Memorizing Physics Formulas Isn't Enough

A common way students prepare for physics is by trying to memorize every equation.

The problem is that knowing an equation does not necessarily tell you when to use it.

We encourage students to understand what the variables represent and what the equation is actually describing.

Before choosing a formula, ask yourself:

• What is physically happening in this problem?

• What information have I been given?

• What am I trying to find?

• Which physics principle connects those pieces of information?

• What units should my answer have?

Once you understand the situation, choosing and using the appropriate equation becomes much easier.

Why Do I Understand Physics in Class but Not on a Test?

This is something we see frequently.

Watching someone else solve a physics problem can make the process feel much easier than doing it yourself.

Your teacher may recognize the relevant concept immediately, select an equation, rearrange it, and solve the problem in a few minutes. Following those steps can make you feel like you understand how to solve it.

The real test comes when you're given a new problem and have to start with a blank page.

That's why we recommend spending a significant amount of physics study time actually solving problems.

After reviewing an example, close the solution and try a similar problem yourself. If you get stuck, pay attention to exactly where it happens.

That point is often more useful than simply knowing that you got the question wrong.

How Can I Get Better at Physics?

Getting better at physics usually requires more problem solving, not simply more reading.

When we help students work through difficult problems, we encourage them to slow the process down.

Start by identifying what you know and what you're trying to find. Draw a diagram when appropriate. Determine which physics concept applies. Then decide which equation or approach makes sense.

If you get the wrong answer, don't immediately look at the correct solution and move on.

Ask why your approach didn't work.

Did you choose the wrong equation?

Did you misunderstand the concept?

Did you make an Algebra mistake?

Did you forget to convert a unit?

Did you misread a graph or diagram?

Did you answer something other than what the question actually asked?

When you begin recognizing patterns in your mistakes, you can spend more of your study time addressing the things that are actually holding you back.

Don't Be Afraid to Go Back to the Basics

Students sometimes feel like going back to an earlier topic means they're falling behind.

We don't look at it that way.

If a missing Algebra skill is preventing you from solving physics problems, strengthening that skill is part of learning physics.

The same applies to earlier physics concepts.

Taking time to understand vectors, motion, forces, or another foundational concept can make later material considerably easier.

Moving forward without understanding the foundation often makes the next unit harder than it needs to be.

When Should You Get Help With Physics?

Everyone gets stuck occasionally. But if you consistently have difficulty starting problems, don't understand why you're getting answers wrong, or feel like each new unit makes less sense than the last, it may be time to get additional help.

We believe the important part is identifying why you're struggling rather than simply doing more of the same thing.

Sometimes a student needs a physics concept explained differently. Sometimes they need someone to work through the problem-solving process with them. Sometimes the real issue is an underlying math skill.

One-on-one tutoring gives us the opportunity to identify that specific problem and focus on it rather than reviewing an entire chapter the student may already mostly understand.

Get One-on-One Help With Physics

We provide online physics tutoring for students who need additional help understanding concepts, solving problems, or strengthening the math skills they need to succeed in physics.

Our tutoring sessions give students the opportunity to work through problems step by step, ask questions as they come up, and spend time on the specific topics that are giving them difficulty.

Because tutoring takes place online, students can work with us regardless of where they live without being limited to the physics tutors available in their immediate area.

Struggling with physics doesn't necessarily mean you're bad at physics. Often, the first step toward improving is figuring out exactly what's causing the struggle. Once we identify that, we can work on the concepts and skills needed to move forward.