• Question: I Find it hard to remember science formulae ... HELP!

    Asked by pewdiefan to Callum, Gina, Katie, Michelle, Sam on 15 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Callum Johnston

      Callum Johnston answered on 15 Nov 2012:

      One of the best things you can do to remember boring things is to make them seem funny or silly for example for E=MC2 you could remember that E is the first letter of equals so say it like eeeeeeeeequals, then imagine M from James Bond films sitting on a square with the letter C in it.

      Memory champions use tricks like this and lots of others to remember thousands of bits of information. There is a website called http://www.memrise.com which helps you learn things this way by giving you funny images for each item you have to remember.

    • Photo: Michelle Linterman

      Michelle Linterman answered on 15 Nov 2012:

      Hi pewdiefan,

      I agree it is really hard to memorise things like formulae. For me the best way to keep them in my brain was to write them down a number of times, then test myself a few hours later. if I got is right I’d wait a bit longer, more like days and try again to see if I could still remember. If I had got is wrong I’d write it out again a number of time, and repeat the process. it wasn’t the most exciting way to get it stuck in my brain, but it worked.

      One of my friends used to sing equations to herself to try and remember them. I’m not sure if that would work for me though!

      Good luck, and if you discover any good tips make sure you pass them on.

      Michelle

    • Photo: Katie Howe

      Katie Howe answered on 16 Nov 2012:

      Hi!

      I like to draw out little pictures so I can remember the different parts of the equation!

      For example for the equation: moment = force × distance, I would draw a clock to remind myself of moment, a lightsaber to remind myself of the force in Star Wars(!!), and a ruler for distance. Like callum said if you make it funny then you are more likely to remember it!

      Also if I need to memorize something I write it on a piece of paper and stick it onto the outside of the glass shower door. Then I can look at it while I am having shower and hopefully it will sink in eventually!

      I hope this is helpful! Good luck with your formulae!

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