Solving Quantitative Physics Problems
On this page, you will find activities designed for physics lessons aimed at developing students' ability to solve quantitative physics problems. Each activity includes methodological materials for teachers, providing guidance on how to integrate the activity into teaching. Additionally, the activities come with student worksheets and their corresponding solutions. The solution documents also contain methodological notes for teachers and a list of references from which the problems in the worksheets were sourced.
All prepared materials (zip, 4 MB).
Below, you will find a brief description of each activity:
1. Creating own problem solving plan
To effectively solve quantitative physics problems, students need to learn a structured approach that helps them work more efficiently and overcome potential difficulties. By creating their own problem-solving steps or a list of useful strategies, students become more aware of the key steps involved in solving physics problems and recognize which strategies are essential for successful problem-solving.
2. Careful Reading
Careful reading of a problem statement is essential for its successful solution. Students must be able to distinguish between important and irrelevant information. This activity explicitly focuses on analyzing problem statements, encouraging students to adopt a similar approach when tackling any physics problem.
- methodical paper
- worksheet – mechanics
- worksheet solution – mechanics
3. Every Physics Law Has Conditions of Validity
Analyzing a physical situation is one of the most challenging yet crucial steps in solving physics problems. In this activity, students will recognize that not every “formula” can be applied universally—there are cases where its use is incorrect because the necessary conditions for its validity are not met. The following activity, Conditions of applicability, further explores the usefulness of applying specific equations or physical laws to a given problem
- methodical paper
- worksheet – Earth’s gravitational field
- worksheet solution – Earth’s gravitational field
4. Matching Physical Principles
When solving physics problems, students often focus more on the described setting rather than the underlying physical situation. This activity helps them realize the importance of looking beyond surface details—seemingly similar problems may require different physical principles for their solution. By engaging in this exercise, students develop a deeper understanding of how to correctly identify and apply the appropriate physical concepts.
5. Classification of Equations
Formulas and equations play a crucial role in problem-solving for students. However, it is not desirable for them to memorize every equation encountered in their studies. Instead, they should learn to distinguish between fundamental and less essential relationships and recognize the connections between different equations. This activity helps students develop a structured understanding of how various physics equations relate to one another, improving their problem-solving skills.
6. Reasonableness of Answers
After solving a problem, it is important to reflect on whether the calculated values are realistic. This activity focuses on verifying numerical results based on personal experience, helping students develop an intuitive sense of what constitutes a reasonable answer. By engaging in this process, students learn to critically evaluate their solutions and recognize when an answer may be incorrect or unrealistic.
- methodical paper
- worksheet – kinematics
- worksheet solution – kinematics
7. Solving Problems Aloud
Problem-solving, especially analyzing complex situations, is often an internal process that is not immediately visible to others. This makes it challenging for teachers to teach problem-solving skills and for students to develop them effectively. This activity uses simple physics problems and encourages students to “think aloud” while solving them. By verbalizing their thought processes, students become more aware of their reasoning, allowing for deeper reflection and better analysis of their own problem-solving strategies.
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