Protocol for Solving Physics Problems

The protocol is an appraoch to problem solving for Physics. 

 

10 steps

 

1. read the problem

 

2. create a meanful diagram

 

3. determine the variables

 

4. assign values to variables (what you are given and what you know, and what you are looking for)

 

6. choose equation

 

7. do your algebra (to solve for the variable you are looking for)

 

8. substitue values into equation

 

9. complete the math

 

10 check sig figs and box or circle answer