Physics Tutorial Center

Guidelines for Problem Solving

1. Read the problem. Many times students do not read the problem, or they don't read it through completely.

2. Read the problem again, in sections, extracting each bit of information presented, and writing the known quantities and information.

3. Make a realistic diagram of the problem. The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words applies. Bad diagrams can be very misleading and should be avoided.

4. Determine the correct dimensions or units for the quantities. Make sure that they are all in the same system of units.

5. Recall and decide which physics principle is applicable. This is usually made easy as it is the topic or topics being addressed in lecture or the book chapter. There really is no mystery.

6. Write down equations that may be applicable.

7. Determine what unknown parameters and quantities are to be solved.

8. Process the information using the appropriate mathematical skills.

9. In problem solving, neatness counts. A problem should be solved not only in an easily followed logical manner, but in a neat manner where the quantities can be easily read and deciphered. Messy approaches can introduce lots of errors, and for instructional purposes, may be very confusing.

10. Perform a reality check on the final result. In most cases problems are based on reasonable situations, even though the situation may not be common to the student's own experiences.

11. Check the dimensions of the result by performing dimensional analysis on the process.

12. Remember that the instructor's primary responsibility is not to work the problems, but to teach the methods and procedures for solving them.

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