There are ten basic steps to solving Physics problems that will be your "road map" to solving ANY physics problems in the future. Please feel free to print these steps off, along with the attached sample problem, and have them to refer to, while you solve your physics problems. If you are solving "KINEMATICS" problems, please have your kinematics formulas handy, if you are solving "DYNAMICS" problems, please have your dynamics formulas handy, etc.
TEN BASIC STEPS TO SOLVING PHYSICS PROBLEMS:
** TIP: >>>Make sure you line up all your steps as well as your equal signs!! **
1) UNDERLINE GIVENS in your word problem, including the unknown.
2) MAKE A SKETCH of what is being discussed in the problem and label it along with units.
3) LIST GIVENS from the problem. (These have been underlined in the sample below.)
4) LIST UNKNOWN VARIABLE.
5) CHOOSE FORMULA TO USE. Using a formula pyramid can be helpful. In this case you are searching for the time taken to travel a certain distance. Cover up the "t" in the formula pyramid and you are left with: distance divided by velocity. This is the formula you will use.
6) SUBSTITUTE GIVENS INTO FORMULA (with units).
7) CALCULATE
8) PROVIDE ANSWER (with units)
9) RESPOND TO QUESTION WITH A FULL SENTENCE.
10) CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER & CHECK YOUR WORK (to make sure that your answer makes sense).
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