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10 steps that will help you understand how to do your physics homework

There is no doubt that physics is one tough course. When you are given physics homework and you are stumped, there are a few things you can do to get the job done. You certainly do not want to return to class the next day without your homework completed, so here are ten steps to help you complete your homework and understand it:

  1. Take good notes in class. If you know you have difficulty with your physics assignments, take excellent notes so you can actually use them. You could even record the lesson so you can refer back to it while completing your assignment.
  2. Start your homework as soon as you get home. This will help you remember the lesson.
  3. Isolate yourself from distractions. Whether you are distracted by your phone, your computer, or the people in your life, if you need to focus on your homework, then get yourself in a place to finish your homework.
  4. Settle in with everything you need. If you need music, choose something that helps you focus, rather than distract you. If you need something to drink or nibble on while doing your homework, you should get that in advance so you can work without distraction, too.
  5. Know where you can find help. Set up your workspace with formulas, a calculator, or anything else that you know you could use. Many textbooks will have pages with all the formulas and other helpful tools.
  6. Read the textbook material. Most instructors will teach a lesson and then assign homework as practice. This usually means that there is something that you can read to help you understand the assignment. Read it first, so you know what will be coming in the problems. When you read in advance, you can go back into the reading to find solutions.
  7. Read the problem and put it into your own words. Many problems have complicated language that can be easily broken down into simpler language. Help yourself by simplifying the problems.
  8. Draw a picture. If a picture helps you visualize the problem, then draw one.
  9. Find the formula. Since you have the formulas on hand, there is nothing wrong with you using them. When you have access to the information, you do not need to memorize it.
  10. Check your work. If your textbook has the answers, then you can check your work. Otherwise, you should be able to find a website that provides free solutions to physics problems. If you check your work, then you can fix the problems with errors.