<p>I am really good at math, I have a 99 in my honors pre-Calc class, the highest grade in both sections, my issue is I do bad in physics. It's weird, I have always thought of myself as very scientific and mathematical, I scored a 750 on my chemistry sat II last year. For some reason I just am not performing on AP Physics(B) tests, and I am extremely frustrated. I don't have a really bad average(92) because of my labs and homework, but all of a sudden I got a 85 on my first test, I thought it was a fluke, then scored even lower on the next test. both times I thought I got the concepts, it's just like I just don't do well on the tests. It's really frustrating, what could be the cause of this? I always think I'm prepared then I'm like ***! It's not my math skills, and I'm usually good at science, I've never had my English grade be above my science grade. Any ideas, I really like physics, and before this I was thinking of a possible physics major, but my confidence has wavered.</p>
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<p>You’re fine, physics isn’t for everyone. Physics come naturally to some, while it’s a death trap for many. People only major in physics only if they have a affinity for it. I tried physics out freshman year, and I ended up with a C in the class.</p>
<p>Also an 85 on a test isn’t bad at all. What did you get on the second test? (If you mind answering.)</p>
<p>Lol, Physics B is hardly about doing advanced math. I’m doing problem sets on Collisions right as I type.</p>
<p>I love physics. We just go hand and hand. Math…eh I’m good at it…I’m in Calc BC (seriously dont know why or how) and I don’t enjoy. People have different affinities.</p>
<p>^ My class just finished that chapter. To be honest, Phsics B is just recognizing your variables and plugging them into an equation. (Not saying that finding which variables are which is away easy(</p>
<p>It takes a certain kind of person to excel at Physics. Math talent is important but doesn’t always correlate with doing well in Physics. Is this a club though you really wanna join? All the physics people I’ve met seem to have common, uh, shall I say certain characteristics? Social reciprocity appears to be a negative vector as physics brilliance increases, and maybe even the gene for cleanliness may be far apart from the physics competency gene when dna gets replicated and passed on?</p>
<p>^^ I wish my school offered AP Physics B, all we have is AP Physics C which is ridiculously hard. Our physics teacher is too lazy to teach it he said…</p>
<p>@redblue I’ll have you know I am quite clean and sociable.</p>
<p>I got an 81 on the next test, I know it isn’t bad, but not where I usually am in science classes. I just think I may fair better with the more abstract concepts presented in math( not saying precalc is abstract compared to other maths). What really bothers me is that one of our first units literally almost overlapped, It was about velocity acceleration etc. except in precalc you had to find the derivative as well, and I got a 100 on the precalc test, but a 85 on the physics one, for most of my other friends it was more consistent ej. other smart kid, 93 on precalc, 92 on physics. There has to be some disconect here.</p>
<p>You found derivatives in precalc?</p>
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<p>hmm i was kind of with you at first…</p>
<p>the explanation i like is just that the physics tests are just harder than the other tests you’ve better on. have other kids had the same experience? (like of doing better on pre-calc tests than physics ones).</p>
<p>As an MIT student, I’m in the same boat…doing well in calculus classes (scores in the 80’s-90’s on hw/exams), but I somehow got a 36% on my first 8.012 (Classical Mechanics) exam (mean was 58). Even though I’m really good at math, I think my issue was, being able to set up the entire problem (finding all the forces, equations, etc.) and exam strategies as well. Also, 8.012’s pretty hard…harder than AP Physics C.</p>
<p>You may want to assess what’s hindering you as well. For you it may also be, poor exam strategies, or careless errors/assumptions, or something else.</p>