How to develop the habit of logical and streamline thinking?

As soon as we come across a question, we should take up the following steps:

1. Quickly try to understand the problem in entirety, i.e. try to understand the
story of the question. Here you question yourself: (a) What is/are the result(s
) required? (b)What data is required to achieve the result? (b) Is this conditio
n/ data supplied? If yes, substitute to get the result, if not, how to deduce th
e required condition/ data?
2. Starting from the given conditions, move towards the results needed, carefull
y monitoring not to get distracted. From the result of one step there may be mor
e than one forward steps but you have to judge which step brings you closer to t
he result and then act accordingly.
Example:
What has been described above as streamline thinking shall be amply clear with t
he following example which is a numerical problem of Physics from EASY category:
Question: An electron is pushed into an electric field with an initial velocity
of 1.8X106m/s and is subsequently slowed down and ultimately stopped by the fiel
d. The magnitude of the field is 6200N/C. Calculate the distance travelled by th
e electron before it stops. Given, mass of an electron= 9.11X10-31 Kg, charge of
an electron=1.6X10-19 C
Solution:
Step 1: Story of the question consists of an electron entering an electric field
in such a direction that the field opposes its motion and slows it down. After
travelling a certain distance the electron stops. The field does some work again
st the motion to stop the motion of the electron. It is required to be calculate
d how far the electric field lets the electron travel in it.
Step 2: Draw the direction of motion of the electron in contrast to that of the
electric field. A positive charge moving in the direction of the field is accele
rated and a negative charge (like the electron) moving in the direction of the f
ield will be decelerated. See the adjoining diagram for direction of movement of
the electron.
Step 3:
(A) What is required? Obviously, the distance up to which the electron is allowe
d to travel by the electric field, is required.
(B)In order to calculate the distance, we can use the relation,
v2-u2=2as
Where v= final velocity
u= initial velocity
a=acceleration
s= Distance travelled.
Therefore, s=(v2-u2)/2a

.. (1)

(C) Is everything given in the question?

We have to calculate the value of s
of a is not readily supplied.

and the values of

and

are given. But the value

(D) Deduce the value of the parameter whose value is not supplied:
In order to calculate a
d the value of force.

if we use the relation, Force= mass X acceleration, we nee

In this case, the force is the force applied by the electric field on the electr
on. To calculate this force, we use the formula,
F=q.E, where q=charge, F= Force experienced by the electron and E=Electric field
strength.
Or, F=1.6X10-19X6200= 99.2X10-17 N
Now, mass of an electron= 9.11X10-31 Kg
Therefore, a = (99.2X10-17)/(9.11X10-31)=10.89X 1014m/s2
Step 4: Final calculation of the answer:
Substituting back in (1), we get
Distance, s=[02-(1.8X106)2]/2X(-10.89X1014)=0.0015 m
[Since initial velocity=1.8X106m/s, final velocity=0 and since it is a case of r
etardation, acceleration is taken as negative]
N.B. A strict streamline thinker will go as far as to discard step 2 since it is
obvious that it is a case of retardation and a will be negative.