Ali Alqaraghuli, a systems engineer at NASA, argues in his video “You don’t really understand physics” that classical physics equations aren’t taught in a way that promotes real understanding. He also discusses Systems and Systems Engineering in some of his other videos.
A key idea in classical mechanics and electromagnetics is that on a macro scale, events happen because something causes them—it’s all about cause and effect.
For example, V=IR (Ohm’s Law) is often presented as a static equation, but it’s clearer when thought of in terms of cause and effect: I=RV.
This format aligns with the idea of a function, where the current I (effect) is caused by the voltage V divided by the resistance R (cause).
The current exists because a voltage is applied, while the resistance slows down the flow of that current.
Similarly, Newton’s second law, F=ma, is better understood as a=mF, where acceleration a is the effect of the applied force F on the mass m.