How to Do Statics The Right and Fast Way To Prevent Failure

Are you struggling in your Statics class?

Do you want to know the fast way to know how to do statics so that you can be on the fast lane to pass the class and ace the class and get on with your life?

Well, in this post, you will learn exactly how to do just that with a bulletproof plan to ensure that you pass statics nice and easily.

I know what you might be thinking.

You’ve seen people fail out of engineering and you start to panic about the possibility of failing out to.

Here’s my word of advice for you.

Don’t panic and follow this post to the tee.

Yes, you might be getting that reaction, but that’s only because the media portrayed that to you when you were introduced to engineering.

The best way to get rid of that is to do these 2 things:

1)      Calm down and get some water if you need to

2)      Know that you can do this for sure

3)      Read this blog post, understand it, do what it says, and you will be ok.

So with all of that said, let’s get started.

Here’s the first prerequisite to passing statics.

Focus on Concepts

 

This point is critical right here.

Up to now in the engineering curriculum, you have been going through courses and memorizing the material to get your way through the class.

Starting in statics, that is going to end.

Ok, this started in Physics 1, but now the point is really going to be driven home.

Every class from here on out, you will have to get good at understanding the concepts and using them to solve the problems.

In other words, to get through engineering, you are going to have to create the solution instead of following a recipe to get the answer.

That is what makes a true engineer.

Not memorizing and spitting the answers out on the test.

That is what the business majors do (no pun intended) and hence, why they are not in engineering/computer science.

They are not creators.

So if you are not willing to create the solutions, there’s the door to business.

Anyway, in statics, there is still a recipe for solving the problems as one of the professors that I will recommend on YouTube later in this post will present.

BUT, you cannot forgo the conceptual understanding to utilize it correct.

Because even if you know the format of the formulas, it doesn’t mean that you know how to use them.

You have to know how to use them in order to really get out what you are looking for.

If you are not convinced by this, let me just create this scenario for you.

Let’s say that you are at the test and you are looking at a problem.

You know the pieces on the formula sheet, but you are clueless as to which one applies to your problem.

Now what?

You can’t solve the problem!

If you just memorize it like that, that is what’s going to happen.

So if problem solving is an issue, that’s fine.

In fact, knowing where you need to improve to achieve your goal is the single most important step towards mastery of your craft.

So here’s what I recommend to combat that.

If you can, I would take a problem solving class.

Why?

Because this type of class will teach you to how to view things from a conceptual point of view that will allow you to solve the problems extremely efficiently.

However, if that option is too expensive for you, then I have another idea for you to consider in order to develop this problem solving/conceptual thinking process.

If you are taking calculus 3 or are going to be taking calculus 3, I highly suggest that you watch the YouTube series on this subject by Professor Brandon Leonard.

Why him?

Well first off, he explains the subject in a way that a 2 year old can understand calculus.

His explanations are the clearest that I have ever seen anyone explain that topic.

Second, I can tell you that as a result of watching his YouTube videos for calculus, I have been able to use the problem solving process and the conceptual understanding process that he teaches in those videos to conquer classes like Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, etc.

Otherwise, I don’t know if those classes would be in my reach.

But as a result of his videos alone, I can absolutely say yes they are.

So I recommend that you do that starting

today if you are taking calculus 3.

You can access his videos here.

And you can read about why I recommend him over other YouTubers here.

So the bottom line of this section is to not try to memorize the material and to place everything on the concepts and to do what you have to do in order to make sure that this is the case.

And now for a very important section that I think you can understand instantaneously.

Don’t Pick a Professor Who Is a Jerk

 

This one is extremely obvious but heavily overlooked by many students.

If your professor is extremely difficult to deal with or does crazy things for exams like put questions about topics that aren’t supposed to be on the test or is rude in office hours, then this professor is someone that you’d want to avoid and you should wait to take the class in another semester if possible.

This will ensure that you use this post to your full advantage in order to pass and ace statics so that you can just get on with your life.

I would heavily suggest that if you evaluate professors, you should use 2 resources in order to do that.

1)      Your school’s perception of teaching survey of professors’ which can give you a good idea of the professor’s quality.

2)      Rate my professors, which can be accessed here.

Please note that for rate my professors, some reviews tend to be complainers that are just there to criticize the professor with no real justification, so just keep that in mind when you are seeing the reviews.

But other than that, it’s pretty accurate.

So do that before you sign up and double check in your student portal what professors are available so that you do not sign up for the wrong section of the class.

So assuming that you have the first two sections of this post taken care of, it’s time to reveal the magical method in which you will pass and ace statics the easy way with no worry whatsoever.

Here it is!

Here’s the Magic 3 Step Process for Acing Statics

 

Step 1: Read the textbook before you go to class

This is for sure the most underutilized resource in the class that contains most of what you need to know to succeed in the class.

The textbook information is the basis for what the professors will create their tests out of.

If you understand everything that book says and you are able to solve every problem out of the book as a result of the conceptual basis of the book, then you are good to go for your class.

Granted, not all books are perfect, so you must utilize other resources if you have to.

And I’ll add another point here about reading the book.

On top of just reading the material, if you can solve some of the problems in the book beforehand prior to going to class, then that’s a big bonus for you since you will clearly understand what the professor is talking about and you can actually take control of the lecture.

That’ll ensure that you solidify your understanding and your doubts before test time!

And it’s also a good move to do that in order to build a relationship with the professor because who knows you might just get something out of that relationship that can benefit your career somehow!

You can read about the specifics to do that right here.

And now for step 2 which is

Step 2: Watch Dr. Jeff Hanson’s Statics YouTube Series

This guy is the absolute best on YouTube for statics for many reasons.

He explains the material in an extremely clear way that will make you instantly understand the subject without any questions or hesitations.

Dr. Hanson also gives step by step methods for solving the problems that other YouTubers don’t do, which helps clarify everything in knowing how to approach the problems without any hesitation whatsoever.

All of these videos include step by step methods on how to do statics machine problems, statics spring problems, statics moment problems, etc.

This definitely clears some doubts in your mind and makes you extremely confident during test time.

The downside of the videos, however, is that he doesn’t go into detail enough to solve complicated problems in which you are going to also have to read the book in order to know how to do.

That’s why step 1 must be implemented as well. The videos are NOT enough.

The videos are excellent for solving simple problems that you will encounter.

But for the hard problems that will become extremely noticeable when you do them, the videos are not enough

You need the book for that.

By the way, you can access Dr. Hanson’s videos here.

And you will also need step 3, which is

Step 3: Utilize your professor in their office hours if you have ANY doubts

A good professor, if utilized correctly, is going to be your biggest asset in the class.

The reason for this is because you have access to instant help from someone who has mastered the material.

In addition, they are issuing your grade, so if you show that you have great effort and commitment to doing well, then there might be a chance that they will help you out at the end if you are the border of another grade.

That’s something to consider.

And also, they want students at their office hours asking questions.

At least the good professors, they really enjoy doing that, so please don’t be afraid to go into their office and ask questions if you have any doubts.

Now the magic 3 step guide will help you pass for sure and might give you your A, but if you are still in doubt, these extra tips will REALLY make that happen for you if you use their majestic ways.

So here they are!

Tips and Tricks for Acing Statics

 

Tip 1: The powerful study buddy

This is basically a classmate that you trust that can explain the material to you when you are in doubt.

Believe me, they will do this because the best way for them to assess that they know the material is if they successfully teach others the material.

And they want to see you do well as well, so it’s a win-win proposition that you should take up if you need to do this.

Tip 2: Do the homework over and over again

This one is a nightmare for some people, but for a lot of people, this is a blessing in disguise because this will help your mind remember what you are doing without forgetting it.

And yes, this means doing every single problem again from head to toe with every step perfect.

Because one misstep and that’s 20 points off of your test.

Do you know the saying “Repetition is the mother of all learning?”

That’s the saying of my internet mentor Grant Cardone who says that repeating every step will make you perfect and close the sale.

One misstep and you can’t eat.

Granted, this isn’t sales, but the idea is the same.

If you aren’t eventually perfect, you will fail.

100% of the time.

And this is coming from someone who is the best at his craft, in this case being sales.

Of course, you don’t have to start perfect, but you will have to keep working at it UNTIL it’s perfect.

This isn’t perfectionism; it’s mastery.

BIG difference.

And once you understand that, you WILL get A’s in all of your classes (or at least 90% of them).

Guaranteed.

And of course, there is yet another underutilized tip here that will really get you ahead academically (and maybe career wise) if you get this right:

Tip 3: Utilize the best tutor that the university offers (at the Academic Success Center)

This is a secret weapon if the tutor is great.

Many students across many different classes have testified that when they use these tutors (not the independent ones that rip you off), their grades skyrocket and they understand the material extremely well, more so than they would in a normal class setting.

And the best thing is that these tutors are included in your tuition and you can schedule your time with them extremely conveniently at a set schedule that will be enforced.

That’s a pretty neat deal if you ask me.

Imagine getting a tutor paid for already versus potentially $40 extra dollars per hour for a tutor who chances are is really there to try to take your money.

That’s something to really consider.

So think about that in the many resources at your disposal in college (assuming you are not going into debt for it).

And as a bonus tip,

Tips 4: Read this.

You’ll thank me later.

There You Go

 

And that’s it. That is the secret to passing and getting an A in statics.

Keep this post wherever you go throughout the semester so that you can refer to it when need be.

If you do have any questions about this post, please leave them below in the comments section and I will be more than happy to help you out.

And also if you got the results that you desired to get out of this post, please email me at evan@jointheisland.com with the results. That would be greatly appreciated.

And if you enjoyed this post and you want to see more mind blowing posts sent straight into your inbox, go to the bottom of this webpage and write your email into the box to subscribe to Join the Island, the world’s greatest blog!

Happy studying!

Until next time,

This is Chief Islander Evan signing off.

PS: When you get to Dynamics, read this. You’ll thank me later!