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Gavin Walton
- November 6, 2024
If you are to engage in the study.com Physics 101: Intro to Physics, welcome to our tutorials page! This course is intended for any learner who wishes to get acquainted with the basics of physics without getting lost in terminologies. Freely available on YouTube, even if you don’t know physics at all or if you need a refresher before an exam, this course will help you understand things from motion, forces, energy, waves, and many others. What’s even better? Again it makes the topic very easy to understand, the delivery is good and most of all it provides an organized framework to some of the most difficult subjects.
So for all intents and purposes imagine this class as your one-stop-shop guide to learning why the world works the way it does, from why Apples fall off trees to the reason your mobile phone is charged by electricity. So if mathematics is not exactly your buddy – then study and better still you are welcome to enroll at our institution. Extended reading com ensures that the content is non-complicated and well-understood by the reader. Therefore, whether you intend to get that pass in the examination, or even have fun, then hold on tight. This course outlines how you can gain a mastery in Physics and with this guide, let me show you the way!
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What to Expect from Study.com Physics 101 Class📖
What should you anticipate when doing study.com Physics 101: Intro to Physics? Well, think about it, learning the first principles of the world, whilst drinking your coffee, in the comfort of home, it’s that relaxed. Here you will find all the necessary information about physics that will help you to pass the examination successfully. It is not just rote; it is not how to solve problems using formulas and equations only, with application from the mechanical equilibrium of a bicycle to the energy source of a cell phone.
Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll dive into:
- Kinematics and Dynamics: You will begin your study on motion, that is, the motion of objects and why and how they move. This entails understanding such important facts as Newton’s Laws of Motion which, believe it or not, are going to be on this exam. Understanding forces, velocity, and acceleration is key here, and you’ll get plenty of examples to help these concepts click.
- Energy, Momentum, and Work: Next, the course moves into how energy is transferred and conserved. You’ll break down how work relates to energy and momentum and even get into the gritty details of collisions. (Hint: Elastic vs. inelastic collisions are important here, so get ready to see those terms a lot.)
- Waves, Sound, and Light: aves may seem to be something related to a beach, but in physics, they contain sound to light things. You will study various properties of waves, audible waves, and how light behaves; this can sometimes be a bit muddy but if you use good examples, then you will understand the relation between all these.
Now, if you’re asking, “What’s going to be heavily tested?” you’ll want to pay special attention to these core topics: These include Newton’s Laws of Motion, Law of Conservation of Energy and Momentum, and Electrostatic & Magnetic force. These are essential in physics and are most of the time used as the basis for developing questions for exams. If you can get the hang of these you will be well on your way towards success in this course!
Week-by-Week Study Plan to Ace Study.com Physics 101 Exam📝
Getting through study.com Physics 101: Intro to Physics can seem as steep as Mount Everest at times But if you have a map planned out, guess what? You’re going to reach the peak! To make it easier for you to understand, let’s divide the book into small weekly parts so that you can study each idea separately. Looking at this week-by-week plan, you will be well-prepared and confident by the end of the week.
Week 1: Master the Basics – Introduction to Physics & Vectors
Start off by understanding the language of physics. Focus on the basic concepts like scalars vs. vectors, units of measurement, and SI units. These are your building blocks for everything that comes after, so don’t skip this!
What to study:
- Definitions of scalars and vectors
- Unit conversions (especially between SI units)
- Basic vector operations (addition, subtraction, and magnitude)
Resources:
- Quizlet for vector flashcards: Quizlet – Physics 101 Vectors
- YouTube: Introduction to Vectors
Week 2: Kinematics and Newton’s Laws of Motion
This is the week of motion! Learn about kinematics, a branch of motion that does not involve force and motion, and Newton’s laws of motion. These are probably the most common principles which are used in most of the physical problems.
What to study:
- Kinematic equations (velocity, acceleration, displacement)
- Newton’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Laws
- Free body diagrams (you’ll draw a lot of these!)
Resources:
- YouTube: Kinematic Equations
- Khan Academy: Newton’s Laws Overview
Week 3: Dive into Energy and Work
Energy is all around us and this week shall be about learning about how it flows and changes. LED light; work; kinetic energy; potential energy; and the law of conservation of energy. This topic is very important in tackling problems, especially in exams like this one where there are application questions.
What to study:
- Work-energy theorem
- Kinetic and potential energy
- Conservation of energy in isolated systems
Resources:
- Quizlet: Work and Energy Flashcards
- YouTube: Work-Energy Theorem Explained
Week 4: Explore Momentum and Collisions
Momentum relates very closely with energy. See how momentum is used in collisions and why it will always be conserved even when energy isn’t necessarily conserved. This week’s two big ideas are elastic and inelastic collisions and impulse.
What to study:
- Conservation of momentum principle
- Differences between elastic and inelastic collisions
- Impulse-momentum theorem
Resources:
- YouTube: Momentum and Impulse
- Quizlet: Momentum Flashcards
Week 5: Waves, Sound, and Light
Starting from this point, the concept becomes a little more ambiguous. Waves can be found in light, sound, and in the sea as well! Concentration on properties of waves, particularly sound waves, and the behavior of light waves particularly when reflecting and refracting.
What to study:
- Transverse vs. longitudinal waves
- The Doppler Effect
- Wave properties: wavelength, frequency, and speed
Resources:
- YouTube: The Doppler Effect Explained
- Quizlet: Waves Flashcards
Week 6: Dive into Electricity & Magnetism
This week is where things start to ignite or rather start to glow – figuratively speaking of course! Coulomb’s Law should be the core learning activity in combination with the topics related to electrostatics and magnetism. These topics are normally a setback to most students, so take ample time to go through them.
What to study:
- Coulomb’s Law and electric fields
- Magnetic fields and how they interact with charged particles
- The right-hand rule for magnetic force direction
Resources:
- YouTube: Coulomb’s Law in 5 Minutes
- Quizlet: Electricity & Magnetism Flashcards
Week 7: Review & Practice
By the time you get to this week, you are supposed to have done most of the lessons; therefore, it is time for revision. In those areas in which you feel less confident, spend time solving as many problems as you can. Students should always remember that physics tests are the tests of concepts that they require in solving their practical problems, not the memory tests of particular formulas.
What to do:
- Take a practice test to gauge your understanding.
- Review weak points from previous weeks.
Resources:
- Study.com: Physics 101 Practice Tests
Week 8: Final Exam Preparation
This is it! The last work week before the exams. There are a lot of facts that have to be remembered, this is why it is necessary to come back to the most significant information, refine the material in the problem-solving part, and be sure, that you know all the formulas. This is also the week to raise any questions you may have or to make sure you have fully understood any idea that was explained in the lessons.
What to do:
- Make flashcards for key equations.
- Do timed practice problems to simulate the exam.
Resources:
- YouTube: Physics Problem-Solving Techniques
- Quizlet: Final Exam Review Flashcards
That’s your study plan! By following the above schedule, it is advisable that in the course of the exam, you are well prepared to face any question the course Physics 101 would offer.
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Free External Resources to Study📂
YouTube Channels:
- Khan Academy
Khan Academy is actually great for free, educational videos on a whole bunch of different topics in physics. Their explanations however are very easy for deciphering and exploring deeper into such topics as kinematics, forces, and thermodynamics.
- MinutePhysics
This channel makes use of animatics to explain concepts in physics in simple segments that are not very hard to grasp. This is good for quick revives maybe when one is bored of reading so many text lines continuously.
- Flipping Physics
Geared towards high school and early college students, this channel covers a lot of the material from study.com Physics 101 with fun, practical demonstrations. - Flipping Physics YouTube
Quizlet Flashcards:
- Physics 101 Vectors Flashcards
A great set of flashcards to help you understand and memorize key concepts about vectors, a crucial topic for this course.
- Vectors Flashcards on Quizlet
- Waves and Sound Flashcards
Struggling with waves and sound? This set of flashcards will help you master the concepts of frequency, wavelength, and sound properties.
- Waves & Sound Flashcards on Quizlet
- Electricity & Magnetism Flashcards
This set will help you to have more understanding of Coulomb’s Law, electric fields, and magnetism. Otherwise, these concepts can sometimes be quite complicated, but once they are understood they should be easy to deal with, especially through practice! - Electricity & Magnetism Flashcards on Quizlet
Free Interactive Simulations:
- PhET Interactive Simulations
These three free simulations from the University of Colorado are motion, waves, circuits, and thermodynamics and they will let a student try out ideas in a more dynamic and graphical perspective.
- PhET Physics Simulations
- Physics Classroom
This site offers tutorials, practice problems, and interactive simulations for every topic covered in study.com Physics 101. It’s especially helpful for reviewing Newton’s Laws, kinematics, and momentum.
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Key Topics to Focus On🔑
I have outlined four conventional topics of safety that you should consider and broken them down into easier concepts with examples, tables, and comparisons included below. The following are the ideas that can be said to be crucial and when understood would greatly enhance a chance of passing the course.
- Newton’s Laws of Motion
Newton’s laws could be said to be one of the fundamentals of studying classical mechanics and are challenged in any lesson. Alright, let’s briefly define them with some real-life illustrations.
Newton’s Law | Explanation | Real-World Example |
|---|---|---|
1st Law (Inertia) | An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force. | Think about why a soccer ball doesn’t keep rolling forever. Friction and gravity slow it down. |
2nd Law (F = ma) | Force equals mass times acceleration; how force affects an object’s motion. | Pushing an empty shopping cart is easier than pushing a fully loaded one because the mass is lower. |
3rd Law (Action-Reaction) | For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. | Jumping off a boat pushes the boat backward as you move forward. |
Newton’s laws are tested through practical applications, so be sure to understand how they work in real life.
- Work and Energy
Work, energy & power are related; this implies that if these parameters are well understood, there is a high chance of understanding each other. To help you understand them better, let’s compare these related terms:
Term | Definition | Unit | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Work | Work is done when a force moves an object over a distance. | Joules (J) | Pushing a box across the floor. The work is the force applied multiplied by the distance moved. |
Energy | The capacity to do work. Energy can be kinetic (motion) or potential (stored). | Joules (J) | A roller coaster at the top of a hill has potential energy; when it speeds down, it gains kinetic energy. |
Power | The rate at which work is done. | Watts (W) | A powerful car engine does more work in less time, so it has higher power. |
- Electric Fields vs. Magnetic Fields
These two concepts are related but often confused. Here’s a table that highlights their differences:
Electric Field | Magnetic Field |
|---|---|
Created by stationary charges. | Created by moving charges or currents. |
Described by Coulomb’s Law (force between two charges). | Described by Biot-Savart Law (magnetic field around a current). |
Measured in Newtons per Coulomb (N/C). | Measured in Teslas (T). |
Example: The electric force between your hair and a balloon after rubbing them together. | Example: The magnetic force that aligns a compass needle with the Earth’s magnetic field. |
With the knowledge of the relationship between electric and magnetic fields, you’ll be in a good position to solve questions on electromagnetism.
- Waves and Light
It is imperative to appreciate the behavior of waves and in this regard, light waves as well. Here’s a comparison of transverse waves and longitudinal waves, as well as how they apply to sound and light:
Transverse Waves | Longitudinal Waves |
|---|---|
Vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. | Vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel. |
Example: Light waves, waves on a string. | Example: Sound waves, seismic P-waves. |
Can travel through a vacuum (e.g., light). | Require a medium to travel (e.g., sound needs air). |
Remember: The students should understand that sound is a longitudinal wave whereas light is a transverse wave. This difference gives the reason why light is capable of passing through space while sound is not.
On these topics, you will want to cement your knowledge of some of the more difficult concepts in the study.com Physics 101: Intro to Physics. These tables will come in handy when you are evaluating!
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Study.com Physics 101 FAQ❓
Q: Is Physics 101 really difficult?
It can be challenging, but with consistent practice and breaking down concepts, it becomes manageable. Focus on understanding rather than memorizing.
Q: How much math do I need to know?
You’ll need basic algebra and trigonometry, but nothing too advanced. Focus on understanding relationships between variables.
Q: How should I prepare for the exam?
Follow the weekly study plan and practice solving problems regularly. Focus on core topics like Newton’s Laws, energy, and electrostatics.
Q: Are there any specific chapters that are more heavily tested?
Yes, Newton’s Laws, Energy & Work, Electrostatics, and Waves are often emphasized. Make sure to prioritize these chapters.
Q: What’s the difference between work, energy, and power?
Work is applying a force over a distance, energy is the ability to do work, and power is the rate at which work is done. They are all interconnected but distinct concepts.
Q: What if I get stuck on a concept?
Revisit the material or look for external resources like videos or tutorials. Asking questions in forums or study groups can also help.
Q: How do I remember all the formulas?
Focus on understanding how each formula works and its variables. Practice applying them in different situations instead of pure memorization.
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Conclusion📄
Congratulations! That’s it for our giant slide into the world of study First of all, let us say: congratulations for having reached the end of this tour! study.com Physics 101: Intro to Physics. Hopefully, right now, you start feeling more comfortable with the situation and ready to handle this course starting with such topics as Newton’s Laws and energy conservation up to the topic of waves and electrostatics.
Don’t forget that Physics is not only about memorizing some formulas; Physics helps to explain the actual world. Spend time learning about each concept try to work with the concepts daily, and do not hesitate to use the study material available. The weekly plan given above will help you stay on track and the above-said external resources will cover the remaining part. If you are given tough areas to read don’t hesitate to probe deeper just in case there is more to learn.
Last but not least, be consistent with your actions, and please do not rush the process – it takes as much time as it takes. Physics can sometimes be confusing but getting to the head-scratching answer is a reward by itself. If you are thinking of passing the examination or passing the course without having to take the examination you can be able to do so by having the right attitude as well as having the right approaches. Good luck with your learning, and don’t forget to have fun, because it is not often that you get to work out the way the universe was put together!
Let’s ace this together!
