ABSTRACT
We live in a world where physical laws accurately predict events and phenomena. Even if we know little about physics, we tend to have an intuitive grasp of the consequences of the laws of physics. For example, not only do we know that a bicycle travelling downhill will gradually increase its speed, but if it deviated significantly from the expected pattern, it would ‘look odd’. Indeed, it is a combination of the fact that such laws are generally obeyed, and that we have this instinctive grasp of them, that makes modern computer games appear so realistic. All that the programmers need to do is follow the laws of motion, and the events portrayed in the program will look right. However, this intuitive understanding is deeply buried, and it is a difficult journey to get from this to a full understanding of the physical laws. A further difficulty for teachers is the progressive nature of an individual’s development in this understanding, which makes it hard to appreciate the barriers that face students of physics. It is difficult for teachers to identify how and when they themselves first acquired an insight to the problems that they are attempting to convey to their students. Whereas most of this book presents aspects of the physical laws that describe our world, here we look at the skills and approaches that are useful when you attempt to improve your understanding of these laws. While it is very difficult, if not impossible, to put into words something that must be learnt through experience and time, we can at least suggest a few key skills which will help. We have decided to break these down into five headings:
Critical observation. A combination of careful observation, constructive scepticism, and repetition.
Seeing the big picture. Getting to know how to identify the most important factors.
Curiosity. Curiosity is habit forming. Developing your curiosity about the world is probably the single most important thing you can do.
Mathematics as a tool. This is less important than most of the other skills. However, a good practical grasp of how to apply simple mathematical procedures is a great help.
And finally, in addition to these skills there is the boring practical issue of overcoming any difficulty you have with technical terminology. Sadly, this is simply a matter of hard work.
