Need desperate help in physics!

<p>Here's my situation. I have a D- right now. I've been struggling with the class ever since I started. My teacher spends more time trying to take points off our work than teaching. Our peer tutoring sucks because all the other seniors don't know what they're doing. I have till the end of January to bring up my grade to a 70%.</p>

<p>Do any of you here know any good links that will help me understand the material? And do you know any links where I can find plenty of practice problems? My text book doesn't give enough.</p>

<p>ambrosia
some tips:
1) study with a friend. choose someone you are comfortable with
(not too comfortable, or else you'll keep talking) :)</p>

<p>2) do a google search on topics you find difficult. there are loads of excellent educational sites just a google search away.</p>

<p>3)talk things over with your physics teacher. well i know its difficult. some teachers take serious offense if you try pointing out their shortcomings. this is where your speaking skills come into play.
be subtle, throw hints. </p>

<p>If this doesnt work, show him the effort you are putting in.</p>

<p>again showing that you are putting effort doesnt mean that you go upto him and say: "listen up buddy, i am putting so much effort"</p>

<p>be a bit manipulative. ask intelligent questions (come prepared), ask him to explain topics once again and similar stuff.
add in a few words of praise. (he'll feel nice)</p>

<p>all this sounds easy, but it will require a lot of effort on your part.</p>

<p>my!! i sound like an oldy.
:)
best of luck</p>

<p>which part of physics you find difficult? the content? the way it's presented?</p>

<p>the way its presented! D:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.exambot.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.exambot.com&lt;/a> has plenty of practice problems. :)</p>

<p>i also need help with physics.. the teacher doesnt teach us and makes us read the book, which - for me - is insufficient. any other good websites out there? should i hire a tutor?</p>

<p>I was pretty much in the same situation last year when I took Physics I Honors. The teacher didn't teach at all and on top of that, we didn't even have a textbook! All we had was a workbook which wasn't much help when you have no clue whatsoever as to whats going on. After struggling for a little over a semester (barely getting a C) I got a tutor which helped me understand what was going. Although my grade didn't jump by leaps and bounds (because the teacher made these ridiculously impossible tests), I felt more confident at what I was doing. Don't know how much this will help you, but its not impossible to understand physics. Good luck!</p>

<p>Are you doing IB or AP or something else. If you are doing one of the first two I would suggest buying a review/study book. They easily summarize the material. I would also suggest looking at past papers online and doing practice problems. </p>

<p>Second I would talk to your teacher and perhaps if you would pay for it private tutoring. I had the same problem the past two years in IB Physics HL. I finally talked to my teacher and he was really helpful and sorted everything out. I have a tutor once a week now and I actually understand. </p>

<p>So to summarize:
1. Study Book
2. Past exam questions
3. Tutoring</p>

<p>Other options make your own notes or have study sessions with other students or ask another science teacher at your school for help.</p>

<p>Does your school have an NHS? I know they usually are happy to provide tutoring if needed, and plenty of students will be looking for an opportunity to get hours...</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>eck i<code>m in the same situation with Algebra 2 Trig (aka the bane of my existence.)...
my teacher wants the best for his students, but unfortunately is so obsessed with the concept of teaching "quality math" that he tells us how our textbook doesn't teach the methods correctly at ALL. so when we're cramming for a test at night, we have almost NO references to study from. (and i</code>d rather chew off my arm than study my class notes; i suck at taking notes x_X)</p>

<p>on a test once, i got ALL THE PROBLEMS CORRECT. ALL OF THEM. i showed plenty of work. oh but whats this? i get a D+ because i didnt do it his way AND because i used "garbage language" such as FOIL and 'reciprocal'. ugh. dont ask.</p>

<p>
[quote]
i got ALL THE PROBLEMS CORRECT. ALL OF THEM. i showed plenty of work. oh but whats this? i get a D+ because i didnt do it his way AND because i used "garbage language" such as FOIL and 'reciprocal'. ugh. dont ask.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That is seriously not right. Perhaps you should talk to someone at your school. You should not be graded down for doing something a "different" way, especially if you get the right answer. That's terrible. I'm sorry.</p>