uwloo

ME 250Thermodynamics 1

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Mechanical Engineering

When it runs

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

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

The engineering science of energy. The scope and limitations of thermodynamics. Macroscopic approach to heat, work, energy and the First Law. Properties and state of simple substances. Control-mass and control-volume energy analysis. The Second Law of Thermodynamics, principle of increase of entropy, limiting cycle efficiencies, criteria for equilibrium.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
    • Complete 1 of the following

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • AE279 - Energy and the Environment (0.50)
    • MTE309 - Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (0.50)
    • SYDE381 - Thermodynamics (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 001460885 / 98MWF 09:30–10:20
TUT 101460985 / 98T 08:30–09:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

57% liked it62% easy70% useful

From 77 ratings and 19 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Some felt this course was very easy from the start, other grinded it. I think it depends on how you think but overall it was a good introduction to thermo. Project was a nice bonus. Had XiaoYu Wu btw who's the most caring, nice, organized, and caring prof you can have that posts all of his lectures and recordings. His exams are a little difficult though and long, but if you put in the work you'll be fine.

    Aug 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • One of my favourite courses in 2B! The content provides an excellent foundational understanding of thermodynamics and is not too difficult. The midterm and final exams were relatively straightforward, and the best way to prepare was to thoroughly work through all the assignment problems and practice finals. If you have XiaoYu Wu, his lectures are well-structured and he explains the material clearly. He also goes fairly slowly through course content, giving students ample time to absorb the information. Make sure you get comfortable using your Property Tables Booklet, as it will be necessary for assignments and exams.

    Aug 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The first half is energy and enthalpy analysis, and the second half is entropy. Most of the time you apply conservation of energy to problems like heat exchangers and piston/cylinders. Getting used to using the ASME steam tables took a while, and the steam/R134a graphs need practice to use. Mather is a great lecturer-he's very methodical and knows his stuff but is quite dry and I fell asleep multiple times during lecture. Stay on top of practice problems, know how to use the tables, and have a comprehensive cheat sheet, and you are fine.

    Aug 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Not too bad once the concepts click. Get really good at first and second law and you'll do great in this class

    Jan 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • A lot of content was covered in this course but most of it wasn't difficult to grasp, given that the assessments were open book. However the final was very long and much harder than everyone was expecting.

    Aug 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

10 posts and comments in 9 threads mention ME 250, August 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.

Spring 2024

Management Eng students, it you had the opportunity to go to UTSG CS instead, would you do it? 10 points, 55 comments

“Please explain why you would or would not. UTSG CS = University of Toronto St. George campus, Computer Science”

u/1000Ditto: “I am too unknowledgeable about it, but would highly consider it - my nature better fits eng courses in general simply, if you want cs background then take cs, if you want engineering background, look …”

u/ConsequenceNo3618: “They made it much easier by giving new MGTE students 3 natural science electives (formerly ME 219/235/250) so those physical/life science options are now feasible too I think the stats and computing are the easiest to get, but all the options should be possible for MGTE …”

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Fall 2023

Software Engineering vs. Computer Engineering 1 point, 25 comments

“Hey everyone! So I'm currently a Grade 12 student struggling to pick between SE and CE for which engineering I should apply to at Waterloo. …”

u/Electrical_Dinner407: “If u think u have a chance at SE, pls go SE instead, CE and EE are the hardest programs in Waterloo (I am speaking with experience)”

u/suiyui: “You're right - 'not necessarily', but the science elective list is different from the physics requirement A similar change was made to Management Engineering - ME 250+ME 219 were replaced with science electives but core physics is still required”

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Spring 2023

Math vs Management Eng 7 points, 13 comments

“Basically title, What should I take for a career at tech? Not any specific role, im currently open to anything (pm, swe, data sci, etc)”

u/I_Beat_My_Kids_: “Management engineering has pretty poor courses in second year due to some curriculum changes and certain profs, older students will probably paint you a better picture of it than your experience will …”

u/Feeling-Onion-4409: “… No longer take ME 219 and 250, and instead take a natural science elective of choice. …”

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Spring 2021

Winter 2021

Management Engineering 10 points, 14 comments

u/1000Ditto: “1. ok depending on you as a person, one of the easiest, be wary of 3b esp msci332, me 235, msci 261, msci 263 2. pm/data/general business/basic mech stuff/ programming 3. …”

u/original-random: “ME 235 is no longer part of the program (neither are ME 219 and ME 250): http://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/ENG-Management-Engineering Lots of changes that the current 4th years did not have, including natural science electives, MSCI 251 and 253, MSCI 302, MSCI 546, MSCI …”

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Spring 2019

Is mech eng dead 3 points, 13 comments

“I swear in the upper years (mainly 2nd year), we're repeating what we learned from previous terms.”

u/loryk_zarr: “Haha what. Have you been to any 2nd year classes?”

u/loryk_zarr: “… ME250, entirely new concepts. ME262 new concepts. I can go on and on lol. …”

u/-MrGoose-: “Courses mentioned in this thread: ME202 ME219 ME230 ME250 ME262 ME269”

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Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… 692 MATH 97 ME 100 ME 200A ME 200B ME 201 ME 202 ME 203 ME 212 ME 219 ME 220 ME 230 ME 235 ME 250 ME 262 ME 269 ME 300B ME 322 ME 351 ME 353 ME 360 ME 362 ME 380 ME 400A ME 401 ME 423 ME 435 ME 436 ME 456 ME 459 ME 481 ME 482 ME 548 ME 559 ME 561 ME 566 ME 599 ME 620 ME 627 ME …”

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Spring 2014

Spring 2012

Tips/Advice for these courses? 1 point, 2 comments

u/TheFriendAttack: “So I'm going into 2nd year eng and I'd like to hear what you guys have to say about ME 235 (material science), ME250 (thermo) and 2nd year calc in general, what would be useful for me to brush up on? Did materials build heavily on first year Chem? How was the workload?”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar