How do I solve different kinds of physics problems?
What can I do to solve a type of physics problem I have never done before. I know the laws behind them and understand if I am guided through the problem, but how do I solve a problem I’ve never done by myself…
Free body diagrams aren’t working.
Write out all the formulas and pick the ones that apply. Keep track of all your known values and the ones you still need to find out.
Free body diagrams would help in many cases so I don’t know what you’re talking about (unless it’s completely irrelevant to the problem)
Just basically go step by step to solve the problem. Show all your steps clearly so you don’t get mixed up along the way.
And of course you can try several ways before finding the correct way.
Examine similar problems until you understand the tricks that were used.
Know the equations that might be useful.
Draw a diagram. If it does not work out, try again.
Scan through the relevant chapter in the book to jog your memory, if desperate.
Try to do physics earlier in the evening, when your mind is less tired.
Find a tutor if necessary.
Whatever happens, do not get discouraged. Most physics problems involve multiple steps, so unless you are a secret relative of Einstein, you are not going to be able to glance at the problem and immediately see how to solve it. Also, be prepared to make mistakes. Even the professionals make mistakes (for example, I heard that at least one Nobel prize winner was wrong when he answered the question "does the boat rise of fall in a swimming pool when the skipper throws a weight overboard").
Look for what quantities are given in the problem. Recall or look up formulas that involve those quantities. Some formulas will be sufficient to let you solve for new quantities not given. Those might be the answer you need, or they might be inputs you can use with new formulae. Sometimes you need to use more than one formula at once and solve a system of equations.