Episode 2 - Why is AP Physics so Hard?
TLDRThe speaker discusses the challenges of learning AP Physics 1, noting the disparity in scores compared to AP Calculus. They attribute this difficulty to the lack of prior meaningful math application and the necessity for problem-solving analysis not found in traditional math courses. The speaker criticizes the teaching methods in physics, highlighting the inefficiency and lack of foundational understanding that leads to frustration and poor performance. They advocate for a more efficient approach to teaching physics, focusing on skills and techniques before problem-solving practice.
Takeaways
- 📚 AP Physics 1 is considered difficult because it's the first time students apply math in a meaningful way, unlike in math classes where computation is more straightforward.
- 🏆 The disparity in scores between AP Physics and AP Calculus (8% vs. 20-25% scoring a 5) highlights the unique challenges in physics problem-solving.
- 🤔 Physics is not inherently harder than calculus; the issue lies in the application and the way problems are dissected and solved in physics.
- 📈 The speaker's personal experience with physics education shows a challenging journey, from high school to a calculus-based physics class in college.
- 📊 The transition from high school physics to AP Physics has changed, with many students now taking AP Physics earlier without the benefit of an intermediate course.
- 🚫 The traditional method of teaching physics, which involves presenting concepts followed by problem-solving practice, is considered inefficient.
- 🎯 The focus should be on improving the efficiency of learning physics, emphasizing skills and techniques before extensive practice.
- 💡 The speaker advocates for a more structured approach to learning physics, similar to learning other skills like playing the piano or tennis, where fundamentals are taught before practice.
- 📉 Many students struggle with the current method of physics education, leading to poor performance, frustration, and sometimes giving up on the subject.
- 🛠️ The speaker aims to provide a better way to learn physics, one that is more efficient and fundamentally sound, to help students overcome the common obstacles they face.
Q & A
Why is AP Physics 1 considered more difficult than AP Calculus in terms of exam scores?
-AP Physics 1 is considered more difficult because it requires students to apply math in a meaningful way for the first time, and the exam demands a higher level of problem-solving and analysis that students may not have been exposed to in their previous math classes.
What is the main challenge students face when transitioning from high school physics to AP Physics?
-The main challenge is the lack of prior exposure to the kind of rigorous problem-solving and analysis required in AP Physics. Students must dissect problems into pieces, a skill that is not typically developed until later in their education.
How does the speaker describe the teaching methodology in physics that leads to inefficiency?
-The speaker describes the teaching methodology as slow and inefficient, often involving a 'practice by doing' approach where students are given concepts and then expected to figure out how to apply them through problem-solving without sufficient guidance or focus on foundational skills.
What was the speaker's personal journey with physics education?
-The speaker first encountered physics in 11th grade, took AP Physics B in 12th grade, and then had to redo physics in college because it was a calculus-based course. It took multiple exposures and a more advanced class to finally understand the material.
Why does the speaker believe that the current approach to teaching physics is not effective?
-The speaker believes the current approach is not effective because it lacks a focus on teaching foundational skills and techniques before expecting students to apply them in problem-solving. This leads to students struggling and often giving up on the subject.
What change has the speaker observed in the way high schools approach physics education?
-The speaker has observed that many high schools have dropped the honors physics class that used to precede AP Physics, which has resulted in students lacking the necessary background and exposure to physics concepts before tackling the AP course.
How does the speaker propose to improve the efficiency of learning physics?
-The speaker proposes focusing on the skills that students are supposed to be learning, providing explicit teaching of fundamentals and techniques before expecting students to apply them in problem-solving, similar to how one would learn a skill like playing the piano.
What is the speaker's view on students taking AP Physics without prior physics education?
-The speaker believes that students should have a solid foundation in physics before taking AP Physics. They argue that the current system, which often expects students to learn physics over two to three years, is inefficient and not necessary if the teaching methodology is improved.
What is the speaker's perspective on the disparity in the number of students scoring a 5 on the AP Physics and AP Calculus exams?
-The speaker does not believe that physics is inherently harder than calculus. Instead, they attribute the disparity to the way physics is taught, which lacks efficiency and does not prioritize building a strong foundation in problem-solving and analysis.
How does the speaker suggest improving the teaching of physics?
-The speaker suggests that the teaching of physics should focus on explicitly teaching the skills and techniques first, before students are expected to apply them. They believe that this approach will make learning physics more efficient and accessible to students.
What is the speaker's advice for students who are struggling with physics?
-The speaker advises students to focus on understanding the foundational skills and techniques of physics rather than just practicing problem-solving. They compare it to learning a sport or a musical instrument, where mastering the basics is crucial before moving on to more complex tasks.
Outlines
🤔 Understanding the Challenge of AP Physics 1
This paragraph discusses the difficulty of AP Physics 1 compared to AP Calculus, noting the disparity in the percentage of students scoring a five on the AP exam. The speaker suggests that physics is not inherently harder but requires a different skill set—applying math in a meaningful way, dissecting problems, and problem-solving analysis. The speaker shares their personal journey with physics, highlighting the inefficiency in the way physics is taught, which often involves a trial-and-error approach to understanding concepts. They emphasize the need for a more efficient teaching method that focuses on learning skills rather than just practicing problems.
🚀 Improving the Learning Efficiency in Physics
The second paragraph focuses on the need to improve the efficiency of learning physics. The speaker argues that practice alone is not enough and that understanding the fundamentals and techniques should come first, much like learning tennis. They criticize the current teaching approach that gives students concepts and then immediately throws them into solving difficult problems, which often leads to frustration and students giving up. The speaker aims to provide a better way to learn physics, emphasizing that the subject is not inherently difficult and that a more effective teaching method can make a significant difference.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡AP Physics 1
💡AP Calculus
💡Problem Solving
💡Teaching Methodology
💡Efficiency in Learning
💡High School Physics
💡AP Physics B
💡Berkeley Physics Class
💡Concepts and Practice
💡Fundamentals
💡Efficient Teaching
Highlights
AP Physics 1 is considered difficult because it's the first time students apply math in a meaningful way.
In contrast to AP Calculus, where 20-25% of students score a 5, only about 8% of AP Physics 1 students achieve the same.
Physics isn't necessarily harder than calculus; it's the application and problem-solving aspect that makes it challenging.
The teaching method for physics is often inefficient, focusing on practice without enough emphasis on understanding the concepts.
The speaker's personal journey with physics involved multiple attempts and courses to finally grasp the concepts.
The transition from high school physics to AP Physics has removed the intermediate step of an honors physics class.
Students are now expected to learn physics in a shorter timeframe, which can lead to frustration and difficulty.
The traditional method of teaching physics involves presenting concepts followed by problem-solving without sufficient foundational understanding.
The speaker advocates for a more efficient approach to teaching physics, focusing on skills and understanding before practice.
The current teaching method is likened to expecting someone to become a good pianist by playing for 10,000 hours without proper instruction.
The speaker aims to create a more efficient learning process for physics, emphasizing the importance of technique and understanding over sheer practice.
Physics is fundamentally not a difficult subject, but the way it's taught makes it seem so.
There is a need for a better way to learn physics, which the speaker is aiming to provide through their teaching approach.
The disparity in scores between AP Physics and AP Calculus is not due to the inherent difficulty of physics but the teaching methods used.
The speaker's story illustrates the common struggle students face with physics and the inefficiency of the current educational system.
Efficiency in learning physics is more about understanding the principles and less about the volume of practice.
Transcripts
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