I had a vivid imagination as a kid, lost it in my 20s, and regained it in my 30s. After decades of schooling, reading had beed reduced to a mechanical necessity.
It took some work and intention to slow down and learn to actually imagine the world that the author is laying out for us. But like any other learned habit it becomes easier and eventually not noticed with practice.
Finding engrossing fiction (in my case, science fiction) helped me break through. Given your references to visualizing physics, you might enjoy the first book or two of the Three Body Trilogy.
It took some work and intention to slow down and learn to actually imagine the world that the author is laying out for us. But like any other learned habit it becomes easier and eventually not noticed with practice.
Finding engrossing fiction (in my case, science fiction) helped me break through. Given your references to visualizing physics, you might enjoy the first book or two of the Three Body Trilogy.