Complex physics problems, which prove to be "beyond the reach of the average mind," have several specific characteristics.

Psychological Hurdles and Theoretical Constraints in Complex Physics P

Complex physics problems, which prove to be "beyond the reach of the average mind," have several specific characteristics. First, they consist of a long chain of interrelated mathematical operations, where each subsequent step builds on the results of the previous one. Because of this, even if individual operations seem simple, the overall solution may arouse doubt – it is precisely when the final sequence becomes too long that a psychological barrier arises. As noted in one of the examples given in the source:

"One day I was solving physics problems with a fifth grader. It wasn’t that she had failed to grasp the material; no, but she somehow hit a dead end equally before both complex and simple operations. What had already been solved would not settle in her mind nor add to her confidence; on the contrary, the more operations were carried out and recorded, the greater her doubts became.

Suddenly I realized: you don't believe that mathematical operations yield the correct result?

She did not believe." (source: link txt)

Secondly, such problems are often posed within an already established and quite rigid theory, where the conditions of the problem are predetermined by established models. This means that the solution does not always arise from free invention, but rather is "imposed" by a system of axioms and deductions, making the problem substantially deeper than classical puzzles. As emphasized in one of the sources:

"The problems posed within these frameworks have a peculiar character. They are not so much invented or discovered by the researcher as they are imposed by an established and rather rigid theory. They are much more complex and profound than the rhetorical problems that might be called classical." (source: link txt)

Thus, the combination of a long sequence of physical and mathematical operations that leads to doubts about even basic calculations, and the formulation of the problem within strict theoretical frameworks, creates a unique challenge. It requires the solver to not only perform logical reasoning accurately but also to maintain psychological resilience in the face of a long series of potential errors or misunderstandings.