Deepak Kumar — Physicist & Physics Educator

I don’t want you to just solve physics problems

I want you to understand them. A formula is useful. Knowing when to use it is better. But understanding why it works in the first place is what makes physics stick.

Over the years I have taught students with very different backgrounds, learning styles and goals, from students who simply want to understand physics better to those aiming at the highest possible grades. Somewhere along the way I realised something: good physics teaching is not about making students memorise more, it is about making difficult ideas feel understandable.

My classes are built around that. We break complicated concepts down, build them back up from first principles, work through problems systematically, and learn how to approach unfamiliar questions without immediately reaching for a mark scheme. I want students to reach a point where a difficult problem produces okay, let’s figure this out rather than I have no idea where to start.

What students actually struggle with

After several years of teaching and answering questions, the pattern is fairly consistent. Very few students are held back by algebra. Most are held back by one of three things: they cannot picture the situation, they do not know which principle applies, or they cannot write down their reasoning in a way that earns marks.

All three are teachable. None of them are taught by doing more questions of the same kind. That is why the teaching here starts with the physical picture and treats diagrams as a skill in their own right, and why exam technique is discussed openly rather than treated as something students should absorb by osmosis.

Beyond the classroom

Physics is a huge part of my life, but it is not the only thing I am obsessed with. When I am not teaching, you will probably find me doing something that involves movement, mountains or an unreasonable amount of physical effort.

I climb and trek, and I am fascinated by the physical and mental challenge of pushing yourself in difficult environments. I am also fairly serious about training and endurance. There is something about training consistently, seeing gradual progress and doing things you could not do a few months ago that I find deeply satisfying.

And yes, I am also a massive Spider-Man fan. Beneath all the superpowers, the thing that makes him interesting is that he is still just a person trying to figure things out, making mistakes, getting back up and continuing. That is a philosophy I can get behind.

Why physics

Because physics gives you a particular way of looking at the world. You start asking questions. Why does that happen? What changes if I alter this? What assumptions am I making? Can I explain this without memorising a formula?

Eventually you realise that physics is not a subject you study for an examination, it is a way of thinking. That is the relationship with physics I want my students to develop. Not I need to get a 7, but I actually understand this. The grades tend to follow.

What you can expect from me

Clarity. If something can be explained simply, I will explain it simply. Depth. If you want to understand something beyond the syllabus, I will probably enjoy that conversation as much as you do. Problem solving. We will not just collect formulas, we will learn to think through unfamiliar problems. Honesty. Physics can be difficult and I am not going to pretend otherwise, but difficult does not mean impossible. And a little bit of madness, because studying physics should not feel like punishment.

The teacher behind the screen

That is what I want this page to tell you. I am a physics teacher. I love mountains. I enjoy training. I am fascinated by science. I am a massive Spider-Man nerd. And I genuinely enjoy sitting down with a student, taking something that initially looks impossible, and slowly turning it into something that makes sense.

That is why I teach. If you are here because physics currently feels like a mess, that is completely okay. We will figure it out. My opening article, Welcome to STUCK IN PHYSICS, explains what this site is for and how to use it.

If you are a student, start with the resources or the YouTube channel. If you are a parent, the Learn page explains how the teaching works. If you want to get in touch about teaching, writing or collaboration, write to deepak@stuckinphysics.club or use the contact page.