Years ago, I compiled this list of “The Ten Steps”.   It is pieced together from different versions I have seen in the “to the student” section found in several college physics texts.  I have it posted above my front white board.  Each step is on a different sheet of paper, and it covers the whole length of the board.

            -Andy Jackson

THE TEN STEPS

1.  READ THE PROBLEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH, WORD BY WORD WITHOUT WRITING.

2.  SKETCH THE SITUATION - LABELING THE DRAWING WITH CORRECT SYMBOLS.

3.  IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

4.  WRITE DOWN ALL THE GIVENS USING SYMBOLS AND INCLUDING UNITS.

5.  WRITE DOWN ANY RELEVANT EQUATIONS.          

6.  SOLVE THE EQUATIONS SYMBOLICALLY FOR THE UNKNOWN WITHOUT NUMBERS.

7.  PLUG THE VALUES WITH UNITS INTO THE NEW EQUATION.

8.  CAREFULLY COMPLETE THE MATH USING SIGNIFICANT FIGURES.

9.  CHECK YOUR ANSWER FOR REASONABLENESS.

10. WRITE DOWN YOUR ANSWER USING CORRECT SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND UNITS.

Click here to return to the newsletter's homepage

Click here to go to the Web sites main menu