1. Some strategies designed to help solve physics problems
2. General Strategies
2.1. Draw a diagram, if appropriated
2.1.1. Drawing a diagram can change a hopelessly complicated problem into a near-trial one.
2.2. Identify what you want to know
2.2.1. This is necessary to do in the solving of every single problem, but it might help to do write down what you want to find in complex problems. An example might problems where you have equations as F=ma or something similar (3 variables)
2.3. Solve things symbolically
2.3.1. If you are given a problem, you might replace every number with a letter, and that might help you to reason the problem. You can check units and special cases. It is not always useful, but mostly.
2.4. Consider units/dimensions
2.4.1. It's important to be careful with what units you are going to assign to your numerical answer. You have to check what kind of magnitude you are looking for, and you have to think which units work for that magnitude. For example, if you are looking for distance, you are going to use meters, or inches, or something similar.
2.5. See if you get a logical answer
2.5.1. You can easily realize if you got a logical answer, or if you got something ridiculous. If you are working with low numbers, you rarely are going to get millions.
2.5.1.1. The physicist Enrico Fermi was known for his ability to estimate things quickly and produce order-of- magnitude guesses with only minimal calculation.