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Physics is not Math.
Joseph Sampson
July 13, 2026 • 2 minutes
Just because math is used a lot in physics doesn’t mean that math IS physics. Physics is a science because it studies how matter and energy move within space; and sciences involve experimentation. Math doesn’t involve experimentation because it’s purely quantitive.
This one myth surrounding physics has caused several students fail because teachers teach physics like a math class and focus on throwing a bunch of equations at students without explaining how Newton’s laws are baked into every equation.
Next time you study physics, treat it like any other science class you’ve taken (chem, bio, ecology, etc.) and focus on understanding the ideas first; and recognize that the math is the tool we use to express those ideas.
You can build a stronger intuition behind the math used in physics by accessing my physics guide which teaches physics as a science class the same way that classes like chemistry, biology, and environmental science are taught by exploring Newton’s laws deeply and showing how every equation is either a law or a consequence of a law. You can read more about it down below:
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Buy it Now: Physics as a Science (Version 2)!
The reason why you’re struggling in physics is because the laws—such as Newton’s second law and conservation of momentum—are introduced as equations to solve problems before being properly understood and read as statements about nature.
That’s why I’ve created a guide which focuses on teaching you physics intuitively as a science so that you can understand how to read equations as statements of nature so that you understand what to do when you run into a new practice problem.
Version 2 just dropped on May 18th and covers forces, center of mass, torque, and energy.
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Since you’re Here, check out my other offers to succeed in STEM!
The hardest part about math isn’t the raw calculations: it’s understanding what the math means when rearranging and graphing functions. Most students aren’t trained to interpret the math from a qualitative perspective which is why many students who are ‘good at math’ struggle in introductory chemistry, physics, and engineering courses.
That’s why I’ve created the Ultimate Algebra Guide for Science & Engineering Majors which covers all of the relevant concepts from algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus courses that are applicable for science & engineering majors condensed into a 700+ page guide!
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