the problem
Read carefully
represent them with
THINK
quantities
Ask yourself about
commonly used symbols
convert them into
SI units
Write down
known
useful but unknown
asked for in the
solution
SKETCH
to connect
visual/graphical representation
Having a
of the
physical situation is essential for
learning
GENERAL PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGY
RESEARCH
defining the variables
physical principles or laws
Write down
represent them by
that apply to
the problem
SIMPLIFY
your result
algebraically
before introducing
into
numbers
CALCULATE
concept map by Alexander Osorio Caicedo @phystopia
ROUND
Obtain an
Determine
number of significant figures
*do not round in intermediate steps
Wolfgang Bauer, Gary D. Westfall. University physics with modern physics, 1st. ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2011, p. 16.
number
answer
in
of the
plausibility
DOUBLE-CHECK
Judge for yourself
tipically composed of
&
physical unit
equations