Award-Winning Physics Tutors

Essentially, physics is concerned primarily with that lofty ambition of figuring out how the universe behaves. It is the study of matter and its motion, as well as complex issues of space and time, that intrigues the minds of physicists. Physics as a subject stretches back to the very beginnings of civilization. It was around in 3000 B.C. when the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, and various peoples of the Indus Valley Civilization began studying the movement of the sun, moon, and stars. Many consider the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle to have written the first book on physics. Many of his ideas were taught for generations until thinkers of the late Middle Ages and beyond began to question them. For instance, Aristotle believed that the universe was Earth-centric, a belief not contradicted until 15th-century mathematician and astronomer Copernicus put that to rest. Similarly, it was Sir Isaac Newton who finally displaced Aristotle's laws of motion with his own, more scientifically sound, laws. Today, the study of physics has given rise to many of the conveniences that we take for granted. Modern conveniences such as televisions, many small appliances, and air and space travel owe their existence to developments in the world of physics.

The Growing Importance of Physics

Physics is vital to many industries. As such, ensuring that you or your student are firmly grounded in the basic principles and core concepts of physics is important. A physics tutor can introduce you to the fundamentals if you are just starting out, or help guide you through more challenging material if you need physics tutoring at the college level. The number of degrees awarded from universities in the subject of physics has been steadily rising over the last few decades. A breakdown of a period from 2006-2016 shows this growth in more detail:

Physics Degrees Awarded by Year

Working with a physics tutor can be helpful to students of all skill levels, all the way up to Ph.D. level. The rise in the numbers of physics students can at least in part be the result in the push toward a more science and math-focused curriculum in many school districts. This is often attributed to the need for workers skilled enough in the science and technology fields. Many of the growing sectors of the job market require a strong knowledge of physics. As such, finding physics tutors who can help you or your student develop a firm grasp on key principles becomes more important than ever for both career and academic development reasons.

Physics Tutoring in High School

Physics tutoring can be very helpful to high school students as well. If you've been searching for a "physics tutor near me" in order to get your student up to par in the subject, then you might appreciate what focused attention that your student can receive. A physics tutor can help your student with the material that is covered in their classes, helping them with their coursework and test preparation needs. As physics is an important part of many high school curriculums, setting your student on the right path is vital. Below is a breakdown of the physics content that a grade 9-12 student might expect to cover in the state of California:

California Board of Education Physics Content Standards - Grades 9-12

• Motion and Forces
  • Newton's Laws
• Conservation of Energy and Momentum
  • How these laws allow us to predict and describe object movement
• Heat and Thermodynamics
  • How energy is transferred as heat but can't be created or destroyed
• Waves
  • Characteristic properties of waves and the fact that properties of waves are not dependent on their type
• Electronic and Magnetic Phenomena
  • Practical applications of electric and magnetic phenomena and their relationship with each other

你的学生的物理家教可以分解每一个of the above concepts, lingering on any issues that might give your student pause. For instance, if your student is struggling with the laws of motion, physics tutors can spend more time explaining it, helping your student to understand the material by explaining it in a way that aligns with their unique learning style. By working closely with your student, a talented physics tutor can come to learn the methods that work best in translating challenging material into impactful content. Tutors can alter their delivery method based on what works best. For instance, if your student is more of a visual learner, the tutor can individualize their lesson to be more visually oriented. What's more, private tutors can also help guide your student to supplementary resources that can help them better comprehend the material. This customizable approach is something that is rarely found in most typical classroom settings, and just one of the many reasons that physics tutoring can be so helpful.

Physics Testing

Your physics tutor can help you prepare for standardized exams in the field, which can be tricky if you don't have the aid of a knowledgeable mentor. Each exam has its own structure, set of rules, time limits, and other aspects that may be as important to learn as the content itself. For one thing, your score on one test may be helped by skipping a question you don't know the answer to, and on another exam it may be helped by making your best guess and leaving no blanks. Your instructor can help you understand these details, as well as how to manage your time so you finish within the limits and alleviate anxiety you may have.

Some of the standardized exams you may take as a physics student include:

• Physics Major Field Test – This exam is given to students in undergraduate and graduate major physics programs to help the school determine the strengths and weaknesses of their programs for the purpose of improvement and accreditation. Subjects tested include classical mechanics and relativity, optics and waves, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and others.
• AP Physics 1 and 2 – AP classes give high school students the opportunity to complete introductory college-level classes and earn credits they can use to skip past some of the initial college physics courses. Some topics assessed include kinematics and dynamics, mechanical waves and sound, thermodynamics, and quantum, nuclear, and atomic physics.
• 美联社AP物理C -有两种不同的物理C classes: one focused on electricity and magnetism, the other on mechanics. Student's skills are evaluated in the areas of electrostatics, magnetic fields, rotation, oscillation, and gravitation.

College-Level Physics

Like any subject, the difficulty level only increases as you progress. Expectation and demand are also higher at the collegiate level, meaning that to grasp the challenging concepts, you will need to put in the time. This could quickly lead to you searching for "physics tutoring near me." A physics tutor can help you focus on the content knowledge that is vital to this understanding. Some of the topics that are likely to arise in college-level physics study include:

College-Level Physics Topics (non-comprehensive)

• Linear motion
• Momentum
• Energy
• Interactions and Force
• Work
• Motion in Two-Dimensions
• Circular and Rotational Motion
• Gravity
• Periodic Motion
• Oscillations and Waves
• Optics
• Electric Forces and Fields
• Electric Potential
• Electric Current and Circuits
• Magnetic Forces and Fields
• Induction and E&M Waves
• Alternating Current Circuits
• Fluids
• Entropy
• Thermal Energy
• The Laws of Thermodynamics
• Waves in One Dimension
• Waves in Two and Three Dimensions
• Ray (Geometric) Optics
• Wave Optics (Interference)

Many students studying the above topics may find themselves looking at jobs that require a knowledge of physics. There are many lucrative career fields that utilize elements of physics. A physics tutor can help shore up the skills that many of these jobs require, leaving you feeling more prepared to enter the job market. Some of the jobs that a strong physics background can lead to include:

Physics Career Opportunities

• Nuclear physicist
• Meteorologist
• Materials scientist
• Optical engineer
• Aerospace systems engineer
• Data scientist
• Acoustical engineer
• Seismologist
• Process engineer
• Aerospace systems engineer
• Quantitative research analyst
• Computational scientist

Why Use a Tutor?

Physics can be a challenging subject for many. If you have found yourself searching for a "physics tutor near me," then you likely already know this. Working with a physics tutor can simply give you or your student the chance to work in close proximity with an expert in the content. Tutors can answer questions and even give detailed feedback on progress. They are also skilled at creating an environment that's more conducive to learning that allows students to avoid distractions and get down to business on the work that they need to do.

Physics tutoring is also highly flexible. You or your student may have hectic schedules or limited availability. Many tutors can work with you to set up sessions that are a better fit for your busy life. If you work better in the evening, for instance, many tutors would happy to set up lessons at that time.

Physics is a field of many giants. With the right amount of grit and determination, you or your student may be able to stand upon those shoulders with a firm grasp of the principles that make physics so compelling. With the likes of Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, and Marie Curie, to name but a few, the field has led to some of the most groundbreaking developments in human understanding of the universe. If you or your student are eager to understand some of these monumental discoveries, then working with a physics tutor might be the right choice for you. Don't spend your time searching for "physics tutors near me" when you can speak to Varsity Tutors today. We can help answer any questions that you may have and even set you or your student up with a talented tutor who can assist in working toward those academic goals.