So I started self teaching my AS levels a few months ago. I'm starting them this September in college.
My A level choices are Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology.
I am coping fine in all of them apart from Physics.
I can grasp the concepts easily but when it comes to applying the mathematics I struggle every single time. Even when I look at the answers I can't understand how they got that.
Here's an example...
u = 0ms^-1, s = -560m, a = -g = -9.81ms^-2, t=?
Need to find t, so use s = u x t + 1/2 x a x t^2. (I understand this)
Stages of working it out...
a) s = u x t + 1/2 x a x t^2
b) -560 = 0 + 1/2 x -9.81 x t^2 (I understand how they got this)
c) t = square root of 2 x (-560) / -9.81 = 10.7s (1.d.p) = 11s (to the nearest second)
I don't understand how they got from b to c.
I understand the concepts of AS physics, but this is the type of thing I'm struggling with.
It happens so often that I'm starting to doubt my choice of taking it.
A few questions -
- How do they get from b to c in the above example?
- Will I be taught the method of how to get from b to c (for example) in lessons, or is this something you should already know how to do before hand?
- If I'm struggling a lot with the maths side of AS Physics so early on, should I consider taking something else instead?
Sorry if I sound like I'm babbling, it's late and this has really frustrated me.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.