The Feynman Technique

 How to Understand Physics Better?

       The Feynman Technique is one of the best techniques to understand physics better. It was given by American Physicist, Richard Feynman. Richard Feynman is one of the greatest physicists of all the time. He won the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on Quantum Electrodynamics (QED). But what made him truly famous was his teaching. Feynman is regarded as the greatest explainer of physics.

         The Feynman Technique can be traced back to Einstein's quote:

"If you can't explain something, you don't understand it well enough."

      If you reverse this quote, it becomes the Crux of the Feynman Technique.

    "To understand something better, explain it simply."

       The Feynman Technique has four Steps:

Step 1) Write the heading of the topic you want to understand on a piece of paper.

Step 2) Explain it by writing in the simplest way possible. Don't just write what the concept is but also try to explain using illustrations and examples.

Step 3) Teach the concept to someone. This is the most important step. Once you are done writing, try to explain it as if you are teaching to a class. One thing you have to make sure is that you don't use complicated language to explain something.

Step 4) Go back to your weak areas. If there was any part in which you struggled in step 3, this means you haven't understand it well. Go back to that weak part and think how you can explain it better. This is the simple trick to improve Step 3. Instead of explaining to a class, try to explain the concept to a kid because a kid who knows very less will often ask you "Why" on many points. The more number of ways you answer, the deeper you drive in the concept and the better you understand it.

   The Feynman Technique has two benefits:

  Firstly, you get to know what you understand the best.

    Secondly, you discover your weak areas. 

     So instead of working on the whole topic, you just have to work on a specific area.

    Feynman Technique is based on teaching and it has been well established that we remember:

10% of what we read

20% of what we hear

70% of what we discuss

95% of what we teach.

                                ........... Zahoor Sir Physics