“I Just Don’t Understand Physics”: Midterm Advice For Students

Rhett Allain

Welcome to the middle (approximately) of the academic semester. Yes, students (and faculty) often refer to this time as “midterms”. In some courses, this might be a time for your first exam. In other cases, there may have already been a couple of exams. Either way, now is traditionally a time to reflect on progress in the course.

As I am giving my students advice, I figured I might as well share it with everyone.

Reflecting on Progress

Notice that above I said this is “traditionally” a time to reflect on progress. This is not such a great tradition. Why wait until half way through the semester to determine how well you are doing? Feedback shouldn’t be a once a semester event. No, you should get feedback all the time. If you don’t know where you stand, how do you know where to go?

But how can you get feedback other than a midterm grade? Well, there’s homework. Maybe your instructor doesn’t’ grade homework (like me). However, that doesn’t mean the homework isn’t useful. Can you complete the homework (even if incorrect)? How do your answers compare to your peers? When you are confused, ask your instructor. All of these are great ways to use the homework for feedback.

What about the textbook? What about the class lecture (if there is one)? Do these make sense to you? Could you summarize what happened in class or what was covered in the textbook? If not, you might be behind.

“I just don’t understand physics.”

This is something I often hear students say around the midterm. The truth is that no one “just understands” physics. No. Instead, physics is the result of a battle. There is battle in your head between common ideas and new ideas. There is a struggle in your mind and on your paper about finding a strategy to solve a problem.

You can’t just “get physics” by going to class. Understanding in physics only comes (for just about all of us) through sweat and tears. You have to do the homework. You have to go to class. You have to read the textbook. This isn’t drive-thru learning. If you aren’t putting in the time, you are going to make progress.

Do you think you could become a better athlete just by watching youtube videos or listening to your coach? Probably not. The same is true for physics.

What Else Can You Do?

Is it too late to change? This is very difficult to answer. Some students can fall behind and catch up, but it’s tough – there’s no doubt about it. Finding out you are behind at the midterm is like realizing you forgot to get on the train and waiting a few minutes. Now you have to make a run for it. The longer you wait to run, the farther and faster that train is going. Soon, you won’t be able to catch it unless you are Usain Bolt.

Ok, here are some suggestions.

• Find out where you stand. What is your grade. What do you understand? Go back and look at the basics. If you don’t understand vectors, you will have to go back to the beginning.


• Talk to other students. Seriously. Many of these students are in the same boat as you are. Form a group. Support each other.


• Read the book. I said “read”, not “understand”. Well, you can understand it if you like, but at least read it. Read it before class. This simple act will make class much more useful. Maybe a textbook supplement would help. It just so happens that I have an ebook that goes over the concepts for the first semester of physics – Just Enough Physics.


• Work on the homework. Don’t just “google it”. This might seem like it is helpful, but it isn’t. The only way you learn to problem solve is by solving problems.


• Read the syllabus. If you are going to ask your instructor about your grade so far and what remains in the course, check the syllabus first. You’re instructor might not mind you asking about things that are on the syllabus, but quite a few of them get irritated when it’s clear you ignored the syllabus. Pissing off faculty is not always a good idea.

I have one more suggestion. Start a blog. Yes. Start a blog in which you discuss and share your difficulties with physics. Sure, it’s very possible that no one will read it – but it’s the writing that is helpful. By writing your ideas down, you become more aware of your own progress. Who knows, maybe someone else will find it useful. Oh, you could also just make some videos on youtube. That would be the same as a blog, but maybe you prefer videos over writing.

Good luck, and maybe the change in momentum be with you (Force = change in momentum with respect to time – that’s a physics joke).