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AMATH 271Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Applied Mathematics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Newtonian dynamics, gravity and the two-body problem, introduction to Lagrangian mechanics, introduction to Hamiltonian mechanics, non-conservative forces, oscillations, introduction to special relativity.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
    • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
    • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Corequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Completed or concurrently enrolled in at least 1 of the following:
      • AMATH250 - Introduction to Differential Equations (0.50)
      • AMATH251 - Introduction to Differential Equations (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • MATH228 - Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry (0.50)
    • Completed or concurrently enrolled in at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH227 - Calculus 3 for Honours Physics (0.50)
      • MATH237 - Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH247 - Calculus 3 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • PHYS263 - Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001621132 / 50TTh 08:30–09:50
TUT 101885232 / 50W 10:30–11:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

80% liked it53% easy80% useful

From 25 ratings and 7 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Taken in F25 with Francis Poulin. Brutal course if you're coming from the science calculus courses (which is unlikely unless you're doing an AMath minor or similar), but very fulfilling. I felt my brain slowly expand every week. There are 5 take-home assignments that are frankly ridiculous compared to the lecture content and midterm but you have two weeks to do each. Highly recommend.

    Oct 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • At first, it was interesting to bring a level of mathematical rigor to the context of physics. However, as the course went on it became more and more tedious. The math itself is rarely elegant and more computationally intensive. Especially once we had learned Lagrangian mechanics, solving problem felt less like trying to make sense of a physical system and more like executing an algorithm and mindlessly computing partial derivatives.

    Nov 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • more like a math course, long weekly Assignment. note is clear but much easier than assignments.

    Dec 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took with Michael Waite online. First few weeks are just slightly more complicated Newtonian mechanics but still interesting, but the real fun stuff is Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Prof. Waite's online lectures were engaging and intuitive, though Taylor's Classical Mechanics textbook goes a bit more in depth, which supplements the lectures well. Prof. Waite was very active on Piazza and with emails as well. Assignments can be tough sometimes but the deadlines are super reasonable, and grading is usually fair. Computational aspect of the course is cool too. Overall great experience!

    Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • You learn cool stuff

    Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

45 posts and comments in 34 threads mention AMATH 271, October 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Courses to take if I enjoyed AMATH 250 and AMATH 351 2 points, 5 comments

“title. need to take a few math courses and just wanted to know if any courses would use the material from these courses or build upon it.”

u/surker512: “I've taken the equivalent of AMATH 250 and I just finished AMATH 271. I'd say DEs show up in 2/3 of the course, though most of them are separable ODEs. There's a small unit on oscillations/springs, just a review of the oscillations/springs unit in AMATH 250/251. …”

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Spring 2024

How is AMATH 333? 4 points, 4 comments

u/Personal-Werewolf-26: “… As someone who enjoys mechanics and geometry, and vector calc (AMATH 271/AMATH 231) I'd say this is seems to be something I would enjoy, though some topics include differential forms/geo which would be things introduced in PMATH 365 which I am taking the Winter after, and topics …”

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Spring 2023

What are your core courses? 8 points, 11 comments

“Basically title - What are several courses that you think really define your program? Any thoughts on them, and how they went? Looking forward to the discussion (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\:･ﾟ✧”

u/Pitiful_Following_68: “AMATH 271 is the gateway to the drug that is classical mechanics (first time I had to rly think about problems that included phys, amath and pmath components)”

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Winter 2023

4xx math courses 4 points, 10 comments

“Are there any 4xx math courses that only require a 1st or second year course as a prerequisite? For example pmath340 only requires math135, but I was wondering if there are any other math classes …”

u/TheRealArjun: “AMATH 456, 475 (not sure if pmath majors usually take those Calc 4, ODE 1 prereqs), CS 467 / PHYS 467 / CO 481 (same course), CS 436, 487”

u/TheRealArjun: “… Though I skimmed through some old notes before for 442 (2009, 2015) and 456 (2015) Basically the two-thirds of 456 cover content from AMATH 271 and PHYS 363 more rigorously with the last third being an introduction to topics from control theory (AMATH 455 goes more in depth) 442 …”

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Fall 2022

Questions about AMATH program 1 point, 4 comments

“So I have recently decided to go for AMATH as a 2nd major (my first is STAT). There is just a couple of questions that I hope some familiar with this program could answer for me. Thanks in advanced! …”

u/cabinet_eater: “… also if you take it in the fall you’d probably have joe west (he’s a great prof!) - amath 271 - very physics-y. …”

u/luizloo: “I took amath 250 and 242 in previous terms. Sounds like AMATH 271 is worth a shot! Thanks!”

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Mathematical physics BM vs BS 2 points, 5 comments

“Hi, I'm entering my final year of high school and as such I began looking at applications for programs I want to join (mostly physics related). …”

u/jollymaker: “They are essentially the same program the only difference will be the upper-year class requirements. You also may have mathematicians teaching some of your classes compared to physicists in the …”

u/void_nemesis: “… There's only a few differences, like AMATH 271 vs PHYS 263 (classical mechanic) and PHYS 334 vs AMATH 373 (the second quantum course you take), but both sides can take the classes.”

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Spring 2022

Mathematical physics Course blueprint recommendations 3 points, 21 comments

“Hey everyone, I’m going into the mathematical physics program at Waterloo next year and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a sort of blueprint I could follow for courses because …”

u/Yu-Li: “… 247 AMATH 242 STAT 231 PHYS 234 (go to get override request) 2B Fall: AMATH 231 AMATH 251 AMATH 271 PMATH 351 PHYS 358 3A Winter AMATH 353 AMATH 373 PMATH 352 PMATH 365 / PMATH 343 PHYS 242 First coop term Do your first research coop PHYS 342 3B Fall AMATH 473 AMATH 351 PMATH …”

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Fall 2020

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

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