Plan, justify, and strategize.
Very few relationships in physics are always valid. Many are derived or defined for a particular set of circumstances. (For example, the definition of kinetic energy as 1/2mv2 is true only for a point object or when the object is both rigid and not rotating.) Most students are not aware of the assumptions, conditions, and circumstances that make a particular equation, operation, or procedure applicable. By having students plan their approach (without actually solving the problem), justify their approach, or develop a strategy, they learn the value of concepts and conceptual analysis for problem solving