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5+ years
Pallavi
I am a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (Neurobiology concentration), a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Healthcare Management and Policy concentration), and a Master's in Biology. Throughout my undergraduate, I have loved tutoring...
University of Pennsylvania
Master's in Biology
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts in Biology (Neurobiology concentration)

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Nadine
I am a graduate from Columbia University with a dual degree in Physics and Mechanical Engineering.
Eckerd College
Bachelor of Science, Physics
Columbia University
Dual degree in Physics and Mechanical Engineering

Certified Tutor
I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Jai
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

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Kate
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors

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Erika
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rhea
I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Sami
I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer.
Duke University
Bachelor of Science (Economics and Computer Science)
Yale School of Management
Current Undergrad Student, Business Administration and Management

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Sharon
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classro...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Journalism
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts
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Frequently Asked Questions
Conceptual Physics students often struggle most with translating abstract ideas into mental models—understanding why objects move the way they do, how forces interact, or what energy really means beyond a number. Many students try to memorize formulas without grasping the underlying principles, which backfires when problems require reasoning rather than plug-and-chug math. Other common pain points include visualizing invisible forces (gravity, electromagnetic fields), connecting everyday observations to physics principles, and developing intuition about motion, momentum, and energy conservation.
Conceptual Physics emphasizes understanding the 'why' behind phenomena rather than heavy mathematical computation—it's about building physical intuition and reasoning skills. A tutor working in this space focuses on helping you visualize scenarios, predict outcomes, and explain mechanisms rather than just solving equations. This means using analogies, thought experiments, real-world examples, and sometimes hands-on demonstrations to make abstract concepts concrete and memorable.
Forces are invisible, which makes them uniquely challenging to grasp. Effective tutors use multiple strategies: free-body diagrams that show all forces acting on an object, vector representations, real-world scenarios (like a car braking or a ball thrown upward), and sometimes physical demonstrations with simple objects. Breaking down Newton's laws into intuitive statements—like 'objects resist changes in motion' rather than just F=ma—helps you build mental models that stick and apply to new situations.
Energy is abstract and often misunderstood—students confuse it with force, think of it only as 'power,' or struggle to track energy transformations (kinetic to potential, chemical to thermal). Tutors address this by anchoring energy to concrete examples: a roller coaster's ups and downs, a battery powering a light, friction converting motion to heat. Understanding energy conservation as a 'bookkeeping' principle—tracking where energy goes rather than where it disappears—makes the concept far more accessible and applicable across different scenarios.
Beyond content, Conceptual Physics tutors help you think like a physicist: making predictions before calculating, checking whether answers make physical sense, identifying assumptions in problems, and reasoning through 'what if' scenarios. This involves practicing prediction-observation-explanation cycles, asking 'why does that happen?' repeatedly, and learning to critique your own reasoning. These skills transfer across all science and help you approach unfamiliar problems with confidence rather than memorized procedures.
Students often believe heavier objects fall faster (Aristotle's error), that moving objects need a constant force to keep moving, that energy 'runs out,' or that action-reaction pairs cancel each other. Tutors systematically challenge these intuitions with experiments, counterexamples, and careful reasoning. For instance, showing that a feather and hammer fall at the same rate in a vacuum, or explaining why your car's action force on the road and the road's reaction force on your car don't cancel (they act on different objects), corrects deep-rooted misconceptions that block understanding.
Conceptual Physics problems prioritize reasoning over calculation. Start by visualizing the scenario, identifying relevant principles (Newton's laws, energy conservation, momentum), and predicting the outcome before doing any math. Write explanations of your reasoning, not just final answers. A tutor guides you to ask: 'What's actually happening here?' and 'Which physics principle applies?' rather than 'What formula do I use?' This approach builds understanding and makes you far more flexible when facing new or unfamiliar problems.
Real-world examples transform abstract concepts into meaningful understanding. When you connect circular motion to how a car turns, or energy conservation to how a hybrid car works, the physics becomes tangible and memorable. Tutors leverage these connections to show why physics matters—it explains the world around you. This approach also helps you retain concepts longer and apply them creatively, since you're building mental models tied to experiences rather than isolated formulas.
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