Class 10 Vs Class 11: Don’t Sweat Over Physics Numericals; These Tips Makes Them Easy

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have made many tasks easier and more efficient, But the fear of Physics still persists among students. Most find Physics the most challenging of the sciences in secondary school.

The gap between Class 11 and Class 10 Physics, both in approach and the course material covered, is very wide. Many students struggle to make the jump and face difficulty in managing the sudden increase in mathematics in Physics. From Class 11 onwards, physics curriculum is more about problem-solving and application of concepts, rather than memorisation and recall of facts and theories.

In Class 10, topics such as motion, forces, energy, and waves involve solving numerical problems. These typically require simple calculations like the calculation of algebra, quadratic equations, and trigonometric functions and may not require a deep understanding of the underlying concepts.

The Class 11 curriculum – containing a more advanced treatment of gravitation, electricity and magnetism, and thermodynamics – involves more complex numerical problems demanding a deeper understanding of concepts. Plus, you may be asked to use more advanced mathematical techniques, such as calculus, to solve these problems.

Here’s how to adjust to the change and tackle the new approach to Physics.

Approaching Class 11 Physics

There are many different approaches to studying a chapter and the one that works best for you will depend on your learning style. Here are a few general tips that may be helpful:

Preview the chapter: Take a few minutes to scan through the chapter and get an overview of the material. Look at the headings, subheadings, and any graphics or charts to get a sense of the main topics and how they are organised.

Read actively: As you read the chapter, try to engage with the material and actively process what you are learning. Take notes, highlight key points, or ask yourself questions as you go along. This can help you stay focused and retain the information better.

Review and summarise: This might involve creating flashcards, writing a summary, or working through practice problems.

Test yourself: You can do this by creating your own practice problems or using online resources or study guides.

Seek additional resources: This might involve asking your instructor for help, consulting a tutor or mentor, or looking online for additional explanations or examples.

Also check - Type Of Venn Diagrams And Its Uses Class 11

Solving Physics Numericals

Here’s what you can do to solve physics numericals effectively:

Select a book: At the end of the chapter, choose any one book and solve all the questions related to that chapter so that all the concepts you have read are covered. Generally, students make the mistake of consulting three-four books.

Understand the question: The first step in solving any question is to read it carefully and go line-by-line. Note down data in your notebook as you go along and always try to reframe the question in the form of a diagram. This will help you visualise the problem.

Consider the following two questions.

Question 1:

Question 2: A two kg block is placed on a surface, the force of 10N is applied making an angle of 37 degree horizontally and the coefficient of friction between the block and surface is 0.2. Find out the acceleration of the block.

If you have read the questions carefully, you will know that the two are the same. The only difference is that Question 1 contains only a diagram and data without any description in words. Question 2 is the opposite. Most students would be more comfortable with Question 1 because of the diagram.

So, what do you do if a problem is in the format of Question 2? Let's start reading the question.

As soon as you read the first line on a 2 kg block placed on the surface, show it in the form of a diagram in your notebook. Do this before moving on to the next line and continue until all the information and data in the word problem have been depicted in the diagram.

Draw diagrams: Diagrams are a very useful tool in Physics as they can help to illustrate complex concepts and relationships in a clear and visually-appealing way.

Creating a diagram can be particularly helpful when solving problems as it can help you visualise the problem and understand the various forces and interactions at play. This can make it easier to understand the problem and identify the relevant physics principles and equations that you will need to use to solve it.

Diagrams can also be useful for communicating your solutions to others. A well-constructed diagram can help to make your solution clearer and more easily understandable to others and can be particularly helpful when presenting your work to a wider audience.

Identify concepts: What concepts apply to a question? To identify the concepts, break the question into parts. In Physics, there is a question on Geometric Optics; within that, there’s a question on Spherical Mirror; in that, a question on Velocity - Spherical Mirror; and, finally, within that, a question of an object along the x-axis. Mapped your problem out thus:

Geometric Optics > Spherical Mirror > Velocity - Spherical Mirror > Object On X-Axis

Now, you can easily apply the concepts and formulas for each of these parts.

Check the units: It is important to make sure that the units of measurement are consistent. This means that all quantities must be expressed in terms of the same units.

For example, if you are asked to find the acceleration of an object, you must make sure that mass, force, and distance are all expressed in the same system of units. If the mass is given in kilograms, the force must be expressed in newtons (the unit of force), and the distance must be expressed in metres (the unit of distance).

In general, it is good practice to clearly state the units of all quantities when solving physics problems. This helps to ensure that your calculations are correct and that your final answer is properly expressed in the appropriate units.

Calculate: Certain areas of maths are particularly important for understanding Class 11 Physics. Make sure you know the Maths well too. These areas include:

1. Calculus: This branch of Mathematics deals with rates of change and the slope of curves. It is essential for understanding many concepts in Physics, including motion, forces, and energy.

2. Algebra: This deals with symbols and equations. It is important for solving problems in Physics, particularly those involving equations of motion and energy.

3. Geometry: This is the study of shapes, sizes, and properties of space. It is important for understanding concepts such as distance, angle, and curvature, which are central to mechanics and electromagnetism in Physics.

4. Trigonometry: Trigonometry is the study of the relationships between the sides and angles of triangles. It is important for understanding circular motion, oscillation, and wave motion.

It is not typically possible to study calculus in Class 10, as calculus is usually introduced in higher levels of Maths education. However, there are still things you can do in Class 10 Maths to help prepare you for Physics in Class 11.

Also check - What Is Hooke's Law for Stress and Strain

You can focus on developing your problem-solving skills and understanding of fundamental mathematics concepts. This includes practising a variety of Maths problems, such as word problems, equations, and inequality problems, as well as reviewing and mastering basic Maths concepts such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

Another thing you can try is to apply Maths to real-world situations. This can help you understand how Maths is used in the world around you, and can also help you develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Finally, practice is key. The more you practise solving physics numerical problems, the more confident and comfortable you will become. If you are struggling, seeking out additional resources and asking for help can be beneficial.