I'm going to take my first year of physics this year. Any little tips and pointers or basic information I should know? A useful formula, an important law... Just not too advanced- yet :)

Question

anonymous · Answer

Make a file of the formulas you get.
Always draw a diagram of the forces, or direction concerning your problem.
Put the equation together and solve for the unknown and LATER plug the values (its masochism to plug values and drag them along).
Never forget the + or - for values in a Cartesian diagram (it will be relative to your start and in what direction it is effected)

anonymous · Answer

Newton's three laws. The distinctions between accleration and velocity. The separation of motion in 2 dimensions into separate components. These will be the most challenging to understand the first couple of weeks, because you will have pre-conceived notions of some physics that are inaccurate.

anonymous · Answer

Thanks guys!

anonymous · Answer

Maybe you can just grab an O-level Physics reference books...that's where all the basic concepts are. It can be classified into a few parts: mechanics, waves, geometrical optics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics and so on.

kira_yamato · Answer

The current O Level Physics 5058 syllabus should give you some basic insights about the fields of Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics, and Electricity and Magnetism. If you want to learn a bit on electronics and/or nuclear physics, go read take a look at the old O Level syllabus (5052, 5056) reference books.