Should I use Anki for physics?

Anki is great for memorizing facts - vocabulary, anatomy, historical dates - but it's a poor fit for physics.

Physics isn't a collection of facts. It's about understanding relationships and applying problem-solving skills. Memorizing "F = ma" as a flashcard doesn't help you solve a problem with two blocks on a ramp connected by a string. You need practice applying the concept in varied situations, not just recalling the formula.

You have to write your own cards

Writing good Anki cards for physics is surprisingly hard. A card that says "What is Newton's second law?" and answers "F = ma" tests recall but not understanding. Writing cards that actually test problem-solving is a skill in itself, and most students don't do it well. The time you spend writing cards would be better spent solving problems.

Same card, same context

When you see the same Anki card over and over, you start recognizing the card rather than understanding the concept. You might "know" the answer to your free body diagram card, but can you draw one from scratch for a problem you've never seen? Effective physics review needs varied problem types.

Anki ignores implicit review

When you solve a complex problem involving Newton's second law, kinematics, and free body diagrams, you've just reviewed all three skills. Anki has no way to know this, so it'll still make you review each skill separately. This wastes a lot of time.

PhysicsGraph vs Anki

The concept behind Anki - spaced repetition - is scientifically sound and important for long-term retention. The issue is that Anki wasn't designed for skill-based subjects like physics. If you're curious about why you forget things so fast, see why do I forget physics concepts so quickly.

PhysicsGraph has a built-in spaced repetition system designed specifically for physics. We generate varied problems for each topic, track implicit review through the knowledge graph, and schedule your reviews at the optimal time - all without you having to write a single flashcard.