Getting Started with Why Physics Tutorial
The reason I ended up looking into this comes from a student who was stuck on electromagnetism. They had found a video series called Why Physics Tutorial and wanted to know whether it was worth the time. So I spent a weekend going through the content and trying it out on a few practice problems myself. It is a physics education resource, primarily in the form of video explanations, that focuses on building intuition around core concepts rather than just running through formula manipulation. The channel covers topics from classical mechanics to thermodynamics and electromagnetism, usually with worked examples and visual reasoning. I found the approach more useful than most textbook solutions because it explains why a particular method applies instead of just showing you the steps. That said, it is not comprehensive across every subtopic. If you are studying quantum mechanics or advanced relativity, you will not find material here. It is aimed at introductory to intermediate level physics.
How to Use It Effectively
Start by identifying the exact concept you are struggling with. Watch the relevant video once without pausing. Then watch it again and pause at each example. Write out the solution yourself before the video shows the next step. This alone takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes per concept, compared to just watching the full video in one sitting. Here is a specific problem I ran into. The tutorial explained projectile motion with air resistance using numerical approximation. I tried to apply the same method to a problem involving a pendulum with damping, and my calculations diverged immediately. The issue was that I was using a fixed time step that was too large for the damping coefficient in that particular setup. I reduced the time step from 0.1 seconds to 0.001 seconds and the results stabilized within about five minutes. That is the kind of practical detail the videos do not always spell out. After each video, do at least three practice problems from a textbook. The video gives you the framework. Practice problems cement it. Without the practice, retention drops significantly over the following week.
Where to Find It
The main hub is their YouTube channel, which you can search for directly. There is also a companion website with additional notes and problem sets. The free tier covers most standard topics. The paid resources, if you choose to use them, include problem walkthroughs and downloadable worksheets that align with the video content. The videos assume you already have basic algebra and trigonometry down. If you are shaky on vectors, you will struggle with the later mechanics videos. There is no remedial content for that gap. I recommend a quick review of vector decomposition before diving into the force-based lessons. Another issue is pacing. Some topics are covered in a single video that tries to do too much. I encountered this with the rotational dynamics section, where torque, moment of inertia, and angular momentum were all squeezed together. It worked fine if you already understood each concept separately, but for a first exposure, it feels rushed. In those cases, supplement with a dedicated chapter from your textbook or another instructor's explanation.
Get the Full Details
The content also lacks formal assessment tools. There is no quiz system, no progress tracking, and no way to verify your understanding beyond your own practice problems. If you need structured evaluation, this platform alone will not give it to you. For most students using it as a supplementary resource alongside their course, it is effective. For someone trying to learn physics entirely from this platform without any other materials, I would not recommend it. The gaps in coverage and the absence of assessments make it incomplete as a standalone curriculum. Use it to clarify confusion, not as your only source of instruction.
A Note on Problem-Solving Mindset
The most useful thing I took away from using Why Physics Tutorial was not any specific technique but a shift in how problems are approached. The videos consistently model the habit of checking whether a result makes physical sense before moving on. I started doing the same, and my error rate on homework dropped noticeably. A quick dimensional analysis or order-of-magnitude check after solving a problem takes about thirty seconds and catches mistakes that would otherwise go unnoticed until you received a graded assignment back. If you are looking for a resource that explains physics concepts with a focus on intuition and real problem-solving, this is worth your time. Just pair it with practice problems and a textbook, and be aware of its limitations. That combination tends to work well.
