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Award-Winning High School Physics Tutors
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Kate
Kinematics and free-body diagrams trip up most physics students not because the math is hard, but because translating a word problem into the right equation feels like guesswork. Kate teaches a systematic approach — identify forces, pick a coordinate system, write Newton's second law — that turns va...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
Having taught calculus and physics at Notre Dame and served as a student assistant for mechanics courses, Jeffrey knows exactly where high school students stumble — usually at the jump from plugging numbers into formulas to reasoning through multi-step scenarios involving rotational motion or collis...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Charles
Real-world application problems are where Charles thrives — as a mechanical engineering student at Yale, he's constantly translating textbook physics into physical systems, whether it's analyzing forces on a sailboat hull or modeling projectile trajectories. That engineering mindset means he teaches...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Samuel
Kinematics equations, free-body diagrams, and energy conservation problems all share something in common: they reward careful setup more than raw calculation. Samuel approaches high school physics by teaching students to diagram and define variables before touching any formulas, a habit from his app...
California Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Benjamin
The jump from conceptual science to equation-heavy physics catches many high schoolers off guard. Benjamin eases that transition by teaching students to read a problem, identify which principles apply — Newton's laws, conservation of momentum, circuit analysis — and map out a solution path before to...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
Kinematics, Newton's laws, and energy conservation can feel like an avalanche of equations if nobody explains the logic connecting them. Justin approaches high school physics by teaching students to draw the situation, identify what's conserved or balanced, and then pick the right equation — a probl...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rahul
Chemical engineering at Cornell meant Rahul spent years solving physics problems with real stakes — fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and force balances weren't abstract exercises but the core tools for designing actual systems. That engineering mindset carries over directly when he teaches high schoo...
Cornell University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
James
Physics problems reward students who can translate a word problem into a free-body diagram or energy equation before touching a calculator. James teaches that translation step explicitly, walking through kinematics, Newton's laws, and conservation principles with an emphasis on setting up the proble...
Yale University
Current Undergrad, Humanities (focus on paleography); Math
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
Kinematics equations, free-body diagrams, conservation of energy — high school physics introduces powerful ideas but often moves too fast for students to develop real problem-solving instincts. Aaron slows down at the setup stage, teaching students to diagram a scenario and choose their approach bef...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
3+ years
Ravnoor
Breaking physics problems into smaller, manageable pieces is second nature to Ravnoor — his computer science training at Cornell is essentially applied problem decomposition, whether he's debugging code or setting up a kinematics equation. That structured approach translates directly to topics like ...
Cornell University
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Top 20 Science Subjects
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Lauren
Middle School Math Tutor • +46 Subjects
I am a student at Duke University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with Chemistry and German minors. On campus I am involved in the Bilbo lab, which focuses on neuroimmune interactions in abnormal brain development. I am very passionate about helping others enjoy and learn about various fields in STEM.
Andrew
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am comfortable tutoring math subjects up to multivariable calculus and differential equations, as well as college physics. Hobbies: books, music, art, reading, writing
Florence
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +83 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Duke University. I major in Computer Science and am also getting a minor in Physics. I have had experience tutoring/teaching as a teaching assistant for three classes: Intro to Databases, Electricity and Magnetism (for engineers), and Computer Network Architecture. I have had industry experience in software development as an intern for IBM and a cybersecurity analyst for TIAA. Outside of school/work, I play the piano and train with the Duke Taekwondo Club. I have a strong background in computer science, physics, and math, but I love learning about and helping students with a wide variety of subjects!
Matthew
College Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm particularly fond of math and science, I can provide assistance in almost any subject (from Latin to world geography to art history), and can also help in preparing students for standardized tests such as the SAT, GRE, and MCAT. Hobbies: books, writing, reading, music, art
Jonathan
AP Statistics Tutor • +23 Subjects
I am eager to help students wrestle with and master concepts in their math and physics classes. I have extensive experience tutoring students in both math and physics at the high school and college level in one on one and larger group settings. During my PhD I was awarded a teaching fellowship which allowed me to continue teaching while I continued to perform research and carry out my dissertation work.
Frankie
College Algebra Tutor • +32 Subjects
I'm Frankie! I have recently earned degrees in both Math and Physics from Cornell University. Prior to joining Varsity Tutors, I worked as both a Math Course Assistant and as an SAT Math Tutor. In addition to working with students, I'm also currently conducting Applied Math Research for the National Science Foundation at Pennsylvania State University. During my years of High School, I was running for my Cross Country team and was digging for my State Champion Volleyball team. Also, I am an amateur juggler and an avid chess player. Hobbies: running, art, books, writing, reading, music
Jason
College Algebra Tutor • +50 Subjects
I'm a fourth year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania who is applying to pediatrics residency programs. I graduated in 2006 from Yale University with a bachelors degree in History. I subsequently completed a post-baccalaureate program at Bryn Mawr College to complete the premedical course work and matriculated into Penn's medical school. I took a year off from medical school between my third and fourth year to get a masters degree in education focusing on medical education but also learning a tremendous amount about K-12 education as well. Hobbies: art, outdoors, books, writing, reading, music
Jakobi
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +22 Subjects
I am currently applying for medical school and working towards a masters in public health. I have experience working with many different ages ranging from middle school to college level students. Most of my experience is with math and sciences as well as test prep for English ACT exams. I can tutor in math (pre calculus, trigonometry, algebra, geometry) sciences (biological sciences, chemistry, physics) and English. My favorite subject to tutor is algebra because it is like a puzzle, and who does not like a good puzzle? My teaching philosophy consists of learning about the students' interests and providing a way to relate their interests into the work they are doing so it can be more meaningful to them. I have found that the more a subject means to a student personally, the better they do in the subject. So, in this way it is possible to turn a subject weakness into a strength and passion.
Daniel
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +21 Subjects
I am an Undergraduate Student at Vanderbilt University. With years of tutoring experience and a solid academic foundation, I am fully equipped to teach in various subjects at many different levels.
Garrett
Calculus Tutor • +30 Subjects
Hobbies: reading, music, writing, art, movies, books, travel
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students typically find kinematics and forces challenging because they require visualizing motion and understanding how multiple forces interact simultaneously. Circular motion, energy conservation, and momentum problems also trip up many students because they demand both conceptual understanding and the ability to apply multiple equations in sequence. Additionally, electromagnetism concepts like electric fields and magnetic forces are abstract and difficult to visualize without hands-on exploration, and thermodynamics often confuses students who conflate heat with temperature.
A skilled tutor teaches you to identify the physics principles at work in a problem—recognizing whether you're dealing with forces, energy, or motion—rather than just memorizing formulas. They help you develop a systematic approach: analyzing what information you have, what you're solving for, and which relationships connect them. Through guided practice on varied problem types, you build intuition for equation selection, moving beyond pattern-matching to genuine understanding of when and why each equation applies.
Tutors help you understand the physics principles underlying your experiments so you can interpret results meaningfully rather than just following procedure steps. They guide you through experimental design thinking—controlling variables, identifying sources of error, and connecting measurements back to theoretical predictions. This deepens your grasp of the scientific method and helps you write stronger lab reports that demonstrate genuine understanding of what your data reveals about physical principles.
Unit conversions trip up students because Physics requires careful dimensional analysis—losing track of units often masks conceptual errors. A tutor teaches you to treat units as algebraic quantities that must cancel properly, turning conversions from a tedious chore into a self-checking tool. By practicing dimensional analysis on problems where units guide your setup, you'll catch mistakes early and develop confidence that your approach is physically sound.
Tutors use multiple strategies to make invisible forces tangible: drawing detailed free-body diagrams that show all forces acting on an object, sketching vector components to show how forces combine, and working through real-world scenarios (like a car skidding on ice or a satellite orbiting Earth) that ground abstract concepts in physical reality. Many tutors also use interactive simulations and hands-on demonstrations to help you see how changing one variable affects the system, building mental models you can apply to new problems.
Memorizing means recalling formulas and plugging in numbers; understanding means knowing why those relationships exist and recognizing when they apply. A tutor helps you build understanding by asking you to explain your reasoning, predict what happens when variables change, and connect new problems to principles you've already mastered. This approach takes more time upfront but pays off dramatically on exams and in advanced courses, where novel problem types require genuine conceptual knowledge rather than formula recall.
For students struggling with fundamentals, tutors build confidence by clarifying misconceptions (like thinking heavier objects always fall faster) and breaking complex topics into manageable pieces. For solid students aiming for top grades, tutors challenge them with multi-step problems, help them connect different units (mechanics to thermodynamics, for example), and develop the problem-solving speed needed for timed exams. Advanced students benefit from exploring deeper applications, tackling AP-level material, or understanding the experimental evidence behind theoretical principles.
An effective Physics tutor should have strong content knowledge but, more importantly, the ability to explain why concepts matter and how they connect to the real world. Look for someone who asks questions to uncover your misconceptions rather than just correcting answers, who can draw clear diagrams and guide you through problem-solving strategies, and who understands common stumbling blocks like confusing velocity with acceleration or mixing up energy types. Experience with lab work and familiarity with your specific curriculum is also valuable.
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