ECE 404Geometrical and Physical Optics
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 0 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Electromagnetic waves and the nature of light. Geometrical optics, aberrations. Physical optics: interference, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, polarization. Optical instruments.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete 1 of the following
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- PHYS256 - Geometrical and Physical Optics (0.50)
Leads to
Reviewed on UW Flow
0% liked it0% easy38% useful
From 2 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Course was taught with too much theory and very limited examples or questions that the prof went through.
Apr 2020 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Def not a bird course, don't take this as your Intensive Science elective. The HW assignments take a long time to complete, and there's a midterm and final
Apr 2020 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
11 posts and comments in 10 threads mention ECE 404, January 2016 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 2020
What is the easiest ECE List-1 NSE? 2 points, 1 comment
“I want bird/least amount of work possible please”
u/Frozen-Penis: “most people would say field ecology (ENVS 200 I think?) Personally I took PHYS 256 and it wasn't too bad (I was allowed to take it in the place of ECE 404). …”
Fall 2019
ece 404 2 points, 2 comments
u/yeet_username: “for people who took it how was it? Would u say it was a difficult cousre?”
ECE 404 course load and difficulty 6 points, 3 comments
u/YewTeeBoii: “How's ECE 404 for any upper years that have taken it before as a NSE or a general course. Did you have to spend a lot of time on that course? How was the difficulty in general compared to the basic ECE 105,106?”
u/Frozen-Penis: “I took phys 256 which used to be crosslisted with ECE 404 and it was alright. I guess things could vary by Prof, your problem solving skills, and your calculus skills, but I took it in 3B and would say it's a bit easier than your typical 3rd year ECE course.”
Fall 2018
Easiest NSEs and CSEs? 6 points, 3 comments
“I was thinking CHEM123 and EARTH121 for the NSEs. Then CLAS104 for a CSE. Not sure about the rest. Could anyone give me suggestions on the easiest ones possible? …”
u/Frozen-Penis: “I took the physics version of optics (phys 256) and assuming the ECE version (ECE 404) is similar I'd say it's alright if you are good with basic trig and calc. …”
2018 Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Morou, and UW Professor Donna Strickland for their work in laser physics 489 points, 54 comments
u/DSou7h: “Maybe I shouldn’t have dropped her laser physics course...”
u/DSou7h: “… [Offered: W odd years] Prereq: PHYS 256/ECE 404; PHYS 364 or AMATH 353 It was literally just about lasers.”
Spring 2018
fall 2018 non-degree term 1 point, 13 comments
u/throwaymylif3: “… Its anti-req is ece 404 (not offered this fall), so will phys 256 be too hard to do as someone who just did first year? 3. Advice/Insights/Warnings for all the profs I listed? (and for math 135 if I take it, any reason why I should take one prof over the other?) 4. …”
Fall 2017
Taking ECE 405 as elective in ECE 3A? 2 points, 17 comments
“Is it a good idea, or a bad one?”
[deleted]: “Better now than 4b tbh. Just imagine it as being a core course and 390 as your elective. I'm currently doing the same with the ECE 404 equivalent”
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.”
ECE 2B elective CSE or NSE? 1 point, 4 comments
u/microwavemasterrace: “… There are ECE 403, 404, and 405 scheduled in 4B that count as list 1 NSEs, but they don't actually have a lab portion. …”
Winter 2016
Has anyone taken ECE 404 or ECE 405 before? 1 point, 0 comments
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