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Award-Winning High School Physics Tutors
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Kate
Kinematics and free-body diagrams trip up most physics students not because the math is hard, but because translating a word problem into the right equation feels like guesswork. Kate teaches a systematic approach — identify forces, pick a coordinate system, write Newton's second law — that turns va...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
Having taught calculus and physics at Notre Dame and served as a student assistant for mechanics courses, Jeffrey knows exactly where high school students stumble — usually at the jump from plugging numbers into formulas to reasoning through multi-step scenarios involving rotational motion or collis...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Charles
Real-world application problems are where Charles thrives — as a mechanical engineering student at Yale, he's constantly translating textbook physics into physical systems, whether it's analyzing forces on a sailboat hull or modeling projectile trajectories. That engineering mindset means he teaches...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Samuel
Kinematics equations, free-body diagrams, and energy conservation problems all share something in common: they reward careful setup more than raw calculation. Samuel approaches high school physics by teaching students to diagram and define variables before touching any formulas, a habit from his app...
California Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
Kinematics, Newton's laws, and energy conservation can feel like an avalanche of equations if nobody explains the logic connecting them. Justin approaches high school physics by teaching students to draw the situation, identify what's conserved or balanced, and then pick the right equation — a probl...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Benjamin
The jump from conceptual science to equation-heavy physics catches many high schoolers off guard. Benjamin eases that transition by teaching students to read a problem, identify which principles apply — Newton's laws, conservation of momentum, circuit analysis — and map out a solution path before to...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rahul
Chemical engineering at Cornell meant Rahul spent years solving physics problems with real stakes — fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and force balances weren't abstract exercises but the core tools for designing actual systems. That engineering mindset carries over directly when he teaches high schoo...
Cornell University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
Kinematics equations, free-body diagrams, conservation of energy — high school physics introduces powerful ideas but often moves too fast for students to develop real problem-solving instincts. Aaron slows down at the setup stage, teaching students to diagram a scenario and choose their approach bef...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Andrew
Andrew's PhD in Biomedical Engineering means he doesn't just teach physics formulas — he knows where Newton's laws, kinematics, and energy conservation actually lead in real research. He breaks down free-body diagrams and projectile motion problems by connecting the math to physical intuition, so eq...
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Science, Physics
Vanderbilt University
Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Lauren
Kinematics equations and free-body diagrams often feel abstract until someone shows you the logic underneath them. Lauren approaches physics problems by breaking them into smaller reasoning steps — identifying what's conserved, what forces are acting, and which equation actually fits — rather than p...
Duke University
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Top 20 Science Subjects
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Ravnoor
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +37 Subjects
I am a undergraduate student at Cornell University. I am studying computer science in the College of Engineering. I have been tutoring in all subjects since 9th grade, mostly computer science and mathematics and SAT. My teaching philosophy is based on hands-on learning, and the motto of 'practice makes perfection'. The more you face the problem head on and break it into smaller pieces, the easier the problem becomes to solve. In my spare time, I like to go outside on runs and play basketball with my friends Hobbies: writing, music, art, movies, books, reading
James
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +31 Subjects
I am a freshman at Yale University, hailing originally from Seattle in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I believe that education is one of the most fundamental aspects of a society's wellbeing, and that it is the duty of those of us who have been graced with the advantages of a good education to give back in some way; one of my motivations for tutoring is to do my part in that way.
Jonathan
AP Statistics Tutor • +23 Subjects
I am eager to help students wrestle with and master concepts in their math and physics classes. I have extensive experience tutoring students in both math and physics at the high school and college level in one on one and larger group settings. During my PhD I was awarded a teaching fellowship which allowed me to continue teaching while I continued to perform research and carry out my dissertation work.
Matthew
College Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm particularly fond of math and science, I can provide assistance in almost any subject (from Latin to world geography to art history), and can also help in preparing students for standardized tests such as the SAT, GRE, and MCAT. Hobbies: books, writing, reading, music, art
Florence
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +83 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Duke University. I major in Computer Science and am also getting a minor in Physics. I have had experience tutoring/teaching as a teaching assistant for three classes: Intro to Databases, Electricity and Magnetism (for engineers), and Computer Network Architecture. I have had industry experience in software development as an intern for IBM and a cybersecurity analyst for TIAA. Outside of school/work, I play the piano and train with the Duke Taekwondo Club. I have a strong background in computer science, physics, and math, but I love learning about and helping students with a wide variety of subjects!
Jason
College Algebra Tutor • +50 Subjects
I'm a fourth year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania who is applying to pediatrics residency programs. I graduated in 2006 from Yale University with a bachelors degree in History. I subsequently completed a post-baccalaureate program at Bryn Mawr College to complete the premedical course work and matriculated into Penn's medical school. I took a year off from medical school between my third and fourth year to get a masters degree in education focusing on medical education but also learning a tremendous amount about K-12 education as well. Hobbies: art, outdoors, books, writing, reading, music
Frankie
College Algebra Tutor • +32 Subjects
I'm Frankie! I have recently earned degrees in both Math and Physics from Cornell University. Prior to joining Varsity Tutors, I worked as both a Math Course Assistant and as an SAT Math Tutor. In addition to working with students, I'm also currently conducting Applied Math Research for the National Science Foundation at Pennsylvania State University. During my years of High School, I was running for my Cross Country team and was digging for my State Champion Volleyball team. Also, I am an amateur juggler and an avid chess player. Hobbies: running, art, books, writing, reading, music
Richard
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +70 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Harvard College pursuing an AB in Government. Academically, I have diverse interests, including history, language, math, physics, philosophy, music, and politics. In high school, I tutored elementary, middle, and high school students in music, math, ACT and SAT prep, and Spanish. At Harvard, I spent a year as a course assistant in the math department, helping to teach introductory undergraduate calculus. Currently, I volunteer with the Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC) as part of its Social Outreach Committee. This work involves teaching a weekly course called "Fundamentals of Leadership" to a class of middle school students. Overall, I have found my experiences tutoring math to be the most rewarding.
Garrett
Calculus Tutor • +30 Subjects
Hobbies: reading, music, writing, art, movies, books, travel
Jakobi
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +22 Subjects
I am currently applying for medical school and working towards a masters in public health. I have experience working with many different ages ranging from middle school to college level students. Most of my experience is with math and sciences as well as test prep for English ACT exams. I can tutor in math (pre calculus, trigonometry, algebra, geometry) sciences (biological sciences, chemistry, physics) and English. My favorite subject to tutor is algebra because it is like a puzzle, and who does not like a good puzzle? My teaching philosophy consists of learning about the students' interests and providing a way to relate their interests into the work they are doing so it can be more meaningful to them. I have found that the more a subject means to a student personally, the better they do in the subject. So, in this way it is possible to turn a subject weakness into a strength and passion.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students typically find kinematics and forces challenging because they require visualizing motion and understanding how multiple forces interact simultaneously. Circular motion, energy conservation, and momentum problems also trip up many students because they demand both conceptual understanding and the ability to apply multiple equations in sequence. Additionally, electromagnetism concepts like electric fields and magnetic forces are abstract and difficult to visualize without hands-on exploration, and thermodynamics often confuses students who conflate heat with temperature.
A skilled tutor teaches you to identify the physics principles at work in a problem—recognizing whether you're dealing with forces, energy, or motion—rather than just memorizing formulas. They help you develop a systematic approach: analyzing what information you have, what you're solving for, and which relationships connect them. Through guided practice on varied problem types, you build intuition for equation selection, moving beyond pattern-matching to genuine understanding of when and why each equation applies.
Tutors help you understand the physics principles underlying your experiments so you can interpret results meaningfully rather than just following procedure steps. They guide you through experimental design thinking—controlling variables, identifying sources of error, and connecting measurements back to theoretical predictions. This deepens your grasp of the scientific method and helps you write stronger lab reports that demonstrate genuine understanding of what your data reveals about physical principles.
Unit conversions trip up students because Physics requires careful dimensional analysis—losing track of units often masks conceptual errors. A tutor teaches you to treat units as algebraic quantities that must cancel properly, turning conversions from a tedious chore into a self-checking tool. By practicing dimensional analysis on problems where units guide your setup, you'll catch mistakes early and develop confidence that your approach is physically sound.
Tutors use multiple strategies to make invisible forces tangible: drawing detailed free-body diagrams that show all forces acting on an object, sketching vector components to show how forces combine, and working through real-world scenarios (like a car skidding on ice or a satellite orbiting Earth) that ground abstract concepts in physical reality. Many tutors also use interactive simulations and hands-on demonstrations to help you see how changing one variable affects the system, building mental models you can apply to new problems.
Memorizing means recalling formulas and plugging in numbers; understanding means knowing why those relationships exist and recognizing when they apply. A tutor helps you build understanding by asking you to explain your reasoning, predict what happens when variables change, and connect new problems to principles you've already mastered. This approach takes more time upfront but pays off dramatically on exams and in advanced courses, where novel problem types require genuine conceptual knowledge rather than formula recall.
For students struggling with fundamentals, tutors build confidence by clarifying misconceptions (like thinking heavier objects always fall faster) and breaking complex topics into manageable pieces. For solid students aiming for top grades, tutors challenge them with multi-step problems, help them connect different units (mechanics to thermodynamics, for example), and develop the problem-solving speed needed for timed exams. Advanced students benefit from exploring deeper applications, tackling AP-level material, or understanding the experimental evidence behind theoretical principles.
An effective Physics tutor should have strong content knowledge but, more importantly, the ability to explain why concepts matter and how they connect to the real world. Look for someone who asks questions to uncover your misconceptions rather than just correcting answers, who can draw clear diagrams and guide you through problem-solving strategies, and who understands common stumbling blocks like confusing velocity with acceleration or mixing up energy types. Experience with lab work and familiarity with your specific curriculum is also valuable.
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