Ralph Silva
Taking you from fundamentals to fluency
Physics & Math Tutor — Zurich & Online
Who I am
I hold a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Bristol and B.Tech in Engineering Physics from IIT Bombay. As an educator, I’ve lectured and mentored students at the post-graduate level at ETH Zurich, taught students at summer schools across Europe — gaining a reputation for exceptional pedagogy, and mentored students at the Astronomy Olympiad.
My body of research work spans over 20 publications, earning a best paper prize and an independent research grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
As a student, I won a Gold medal at the International Astronomy Olympiad, and a host of awards in math, science and public-speaking competitions throughout my school years.
I bring all of these skills and experience into my teaching, coupled with a passion for building curiosity, understanding and excellence in my students.
Testimonials
Ralph tutored me in physics, and I’d first like to start by saying that, thanks to him, I ended up getting a grade of 5.5! I had to repeat the first semester of medical school because of physics, and after working with Ralph, physics actually became one of my best subjects.
He explained the theory incredibly clearly and went through the exercises step by step. I could ask questions at any time, and I was also able to decide what pace we wanted to work at during our lessons.
The best thing about Ralph is that you can really tell how much he enjoys his work, especially physics. He is genuinely fascinated by the subject, and that enthusiasm was contagious. I actually looked forward to our lessons and to learning something new about physics. He showed me that physics is everywhere in the world around us!
I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a great physics tutor.
Ralph and I lectured advanced quantum physics courses at ETH Zurich. Ralph is a natural teacher and mentor, and his knowledge of physics and maths is at the level of an ETH Professor. Ralph’s lectures were extremely clear and well-prepared. He took the time to explain complex concepts in accessible ways, and to answer students’ questions with empathy and patience, until he was sure he understood their problem and that they understood the answer. I can absolutely recommend him as a tutor!
Why I teach
As a student, researcher and teacher of physics, the two most incredible feelings I have experienced are:
- when I understand something for the first time, and
- when I get another person to understand it too.
There is nothing better than watching someone make that mental step from curious to enlightened, and no higher feeling of accomplishment than knowing it was your explanation that led them there.
Teaching also activates the researcher in me. What’s the best way to teach Topic X? Where does one start? What example best encapsulates what we’ve just learned? Just because there are established methods doesn’t mean that they can’t be improved.
Math and physics are especially significant subjects because they rely not on rote memorisation but logical reasoning, a skill that extends to all facets of life. I’m not teaching what to think, I’m teaching how to think, which is far more interesting — and important!
Above all, doing physics and math has been a source of joy all of my life, and I’d really like it to be that for everyone. If taught well, I believe it can be.
What I teach
I tutor physics and mathematics at every level — high school and Gymnasium, Swiss Matura, IB, A-Level and IGCSE, right through to university courses.
Subjects
Mathematics
Physics
Levels
Lesson focus
Exam preparation
How I teach
My teaching philosophy is guided by my personal experience both researching and teaching physics:
Visualisation is the first step
You truly understand a scientific concept if you can form a picture of it — even better, a movie — in your mind. It’s the first step in solving any physics problem, and it works for high-school students and Nobel laureates alike. Einstein’s most powerful tool? The Gedankenexperiment.
When I teach a new topic to a student, I’m building their skill of visualisation.
The goal is to understand, not to solve
Sometimes the reflex when reading a problem is to think “which formula do I need to get the answer?” That’s not physics or math — it’s pattern-matching. It works for the simplest problems, but fails as the scenarios get more complex.
I teach a student to understand what’s going on, and the solution will present itself naturally.
Practice makes perfect
Need I say more?
And finally: one step at a time
Even the most complex problem is a collection of simple ones. If you can break down a complicated scenario into its basic components, you will never be overwhelmed by a tough question. How do you learn this?
Get in touch
Interested in lessons, or an introductory call? Shoot me a message and I’ll get back to you within two working days.