4 step process / strategy for solving physics problems
- identify
- setup
- execute
- evaluate
identify:
- figure out what concepts are relevant
- identify the target variables ( quantities we’re trying to find )
- identify the known variables ( stated and implied )
setup:
- given the data found in step 1, choose equations that we’ll use to solve it and decide how you’re going to use them
- make sure the variables correlate with those in the equations
- draw a sketch / graph of the situation explained if necessary
execute
- “do the math” with the equations and data collected
evaluate
- compare the answer / equation and see if it matches