uwloo

ECE 403Thermal Physics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Electrical and Computer Engineering

When it runs

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

Ran in 0 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Temperature and thermodynamic equilibrium. Work, internal energy and heat; first law, with examples. Kinetic theory of gases. Basic probability theory. Microscopic states and entropy. Absolute temperature, reversibility and the second law. Thermodynamic Functions and Maxwell's relations. Phase transitions. Third Law. Other applications of thermodynamics.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed the following:
        • ECE105 - Classical Mechanics (0.50)
        • ECE106 - Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
        • ECE205 - Advanced Calculus 1 for Electrical and Computer Engineers (0.50)
        • MATH211 - Advanced Calculus 1 for Electrical and Computer Engineers (0.50)
      • Complete all of the following
        • Must have completed 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)
        • Must have completed 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:
    • CHEM254 - Introductory Chemical Thermodynamics (0.50)
    • ME250 - Thermodynamics 1 (0.50)
    • ME354 - Thermodynamics 2 (0.50)
    • MTE309 - Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (0.50)
    • PHYS358 - Thermal Physics (0.50)
    • SYDE381 - Thermodynamics (0.50)

Leads to

Reviewed on UW Flow

60% liked it38% easy39% useful

From 10 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Despite the course's scary name it's pretty easy. Class sizes tend to be quite small, which might be intimidating for some but the prof and the class were non-judgmental and generally helpful. Look over the textbook questions and you'll be fine.

    Apr 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Lots of maths skills was needed. Most of the formulas were given.
    Do the assignments and past exams and you'll do great in the final.

    Nov 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • A boring course

    May 2014 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

6 posts and comments in 6 threads mention ECE 403, January 2017 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.

Winter 2021

NSE elective for ECE? 2 points, 2 comments

u/bmocJR: “… Had to take an intensive NSE for mine (not sure if those are gone in cirriculum, originally wanted field ecology to satisfy this) and honestly ECE 403 Thermal Physics with Guo-xing Miao was fairly straight forward if you're comfortable with integrals / differentials and some …”

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Winter 2019

Winter 2018

Spring 2017

Interesting math-heavy technical electives for ECE 3A? 0 points, 7 comments

“I took ECON101 thinking it'd be interesting. Turns out I was very wrong. The course went out of its way to avoid using any math. …”

u/useless_amp: “I found that thermal physics (PHYS358/ECE403), introduction to quantum mechanics (ECE405) are interesting math heavy NSEs for ECE that you may be able to fit in if they are offered. …”

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Winter 2017

Wat to Do Wednesday 9 points, 56 comments

“Welcome to Wat to Do Wednesday. Use this topic to ask for general advice from the community, whether it's about your relationship or what to cook for dinner tonight. …”

u/Tree_Boar: “4 TEs or 3 + NSE? No good CSEs are offered next term. If 3, then astronomy or biophysics?”

u/microwavemasterrace: “SCI 238 was easy when I took it, open book MC exams. But I heard it's gotten harder in recent years. Most people do a CSE in 4A, because ECE 403, 404, and 405 are less work than other list 1 NSEs if you are good with math.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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