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Individual Strategic
Problem Solving Strategy
Model
- Classify the problem according to the general physics principles,
models, and equations that apply. (e.g. Newton's second law,
conservation of energy).
- What the question is asking for?
- Writing down reasonable assumptions and estimations needed to solve
the problem.
Visualize
- Do a complete pictorial
diagram including
- Coordinate system (with position, velocity, time, and acceleration
marked if object is moving).
- Write down the relevant known and unknown quantities with units.
- Draw any additional diagrams (such as a motion diagram or force
diagram) or graphs needed to visualize the physics of what's going on.
- Go back and forth between these representations as needed.
Solve
- Write down relevant general equations (express models and general
physics principles in equation form).
Make sure that you have enough
equations to solve the problem (the same number of independent equations
as variables).
- Solve for the desired unknown variable (on the left of the equation)
in terms of the known variables (on the right). This may require
manipulating and combining several equations without substituting
numbers.
- Substitute known values, calculate a numerical answer, and round the
answer to the appropriate number of significant figures based on the
precision of the input data.
Assess
- Check your answer. Is the result believable?
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