PHYS 112Physics 2
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Physics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
A continuation of PHYS 111; includes simple harmonic motion, electrostatic force and potential, electric current and power, DC circuits, magnetic field and induction, wave motion, sound, and optics.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6591 | 0 / 200 | MWF 09:30–10:20 |
| LEC 002 | 6592 | 0 / 200 | MWF 13:30–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2524 | 259 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TST 101 | 6907 | 0 / 400 | Feb 25 17:30–18:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
56% liked it48% easy64% useful
From 259 ratings and 41 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Listen, I am definitely one of those people who hateees physics and I still do, but compared to 111 this was wayyyy better. The professor's style of teaching takes like a week to get used to, but he is more organized and a better TEACHER than the profs for phys 111. Because of Idziak I actually enjoyed the content- yes I am being 100% for real right now. I actually enjoyed physics. Don't get me wrong, I got a solid 65 on the midterm and the exact same mark on the exam, but I studied my ass off for it and I am so grateful I passed. I grinded at the beginning of the semester only for the midterm (which was worth 28%) and I was able to get by studying 1-2 weeks in advance for the exam (worth…
May 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Much better than PHYS 111. Much more organized and the method it was taught is much better. Course material is very similar to Grade 12 physics class, but make sure you stay on top of the material and understand everything thoroughly. I found this course much more interesting than PHYS 111.
Aug 2020 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I took this online during the summer and would not recommend it for anyone. It was so easy to fall behind on concepts and not fully understand things. The prof doesn't ever respond to emails which is just peachy so good luck getting help.
There were weekly group assignments where you needed to actually say something in the chat to show that you participated (normally everyone just said "here's my answer" and "I agree" and off we went).
The midterm was online and I think you had a day to do it but it wasn't the easiest thing out there. There were also weekly assignments and quizzes so basically your final is only worth 50%. The concepts aren't super confusing but the way it's taught is.…Dec 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Do the weekly assignments and do the textbook readings and you will ace this course even if you hate physics.
Mar 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I'm not really a physics guy, but the course was decent enough. The weekly assignments are quite useful for forcing yourself to review content regularly, and you also get some easy marks for them. Your final mark at the end, assuming that you have Idiziak, is calculated in 2 ways: either a combination of mid-term, clickers, assignments, and exam, OR solely the final exam. The higher of the two %'s will be your final mark, so it is possible to get 100% in the course if you destroy the final.
Sep 2014 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
180 posts and comments in 152 threads mention PHYS 112, February 2013 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
How hard is Phys111? 3 points, 10 comments
“How hard is Phys111? For context I’ve taken IB Physics HL in high school. Is it hard to get a 90+ even with prior experience? Schedule: CS135 MAT135 MAT137 CHEM120 PHYS111”
u/c_vem_n: “if it's anything like PHYS 112, then you should be fine as long as you keep up.”
u/nanofatty22: “You might even wanna consider upgrading to 121 I remember 111 was way too brain dead for me”
u/get_in_the_bin_: “Planning on taking Phys111 in 1A and Phys112 in 1B”
Admission / High School Megathread (Fall 2024) 24 points, 20 comments
“This megathread is for prospective frosh and current high school students interested in Waterloo. Ask your questions here. …”
u/Superb_Expert_6720: “(QUESTION ABT CALC AND PHYSICS FOR HEALTH AND LIFE SCI) hi everyone! Im a current grade 11 looking to apply to waterloo health sci and life sci and I was wondering, do I need foundations in grade 12 …”
u/vimeomaster54: “… i was in life sci and i didn't even do g11 physics, but phys 111 and 112 were both fine. start of phys 111 might be a bit tough to keep up with, but they don't expect you to know anything. …”
PHYS 111, high school knowledge needed? 1 point, 6 comments
“I wanted to try out learning physics, and was wondering if PHYS 111 would be the best option for me? I've never took a physics course in high school. OR should i simply pick another elective...”
u/smol_pumpkinnn: “I never took physics in high school and did PHYS 111 and PHYS 112 for my program. For me, it wasn't too bad. As long as you put in the effort to understand the concepts and study (and hopefully get good groupmates for PHYS 111), you should be good for like a 70-80+. …”
Winter 2024
Life Sci 2 points, 11 comments
“Hi!! I'm a grade 12 student that recently got into the life sci program and is still debating between waterloo and life-sci at uts. What are your honest thoughts about the Life-sci program?? …”
u/Midnight1131: “Waterloo doesn't do life science, you'll be immediately placed in the major you selected on OUAC. Some of them are very different than the others, so you should be mindful of that. …”
u/smol_pumpkinnn: “As far as I know from friends (I'm in biochem), biomed isn't too bad. For the non chem and bio courses, you only have to take Calc 1 (MATH 127) and Physics 1 (PHYS 111 or PHYS 112), which should be pretty do-able. There's no co-op for biomed, though, so keep that in mind!”
Anyone taking PHYS 112 this term? 1 point, 0 comments
Fall 2023
Comp Math 5 points, 6 comments
“I had a quick question about the comp math requirements. The website says this- Three (1.5 units) non-math courses, at least one of which must be at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level, from exactly one of …”
u/mmooner: “All 3 need to be from the same course code.”
u/mmooner: “You need to choose one subject code from the list and take 3 courses with that subject code, one of which needs to be 200 level or higher. so for example, you could take biol 120, 130, and 239. But you couldn't do phys 111, 112, and biol 239.”
Phys 112 course structure 2 points, 2 comments
u/hlthsciprincess0709: “Can someone share the syllabus or course structure for phys 112? Thank you!”
Phys 112 without lab 5 points, 2 comments
u/OldScience: “I am taking Phys 112 as 1b elective (don’t judge, I am a nerd and I like physics). Do I need the 112L for courses that require 112 as pre-requisite?”
u/Organic_Midnight1999: “I don’t see why anyone would judge u for taking Phys 112 lol. By all means, study what you like! Anyways, I took phys 112 without a lab and am able to take courses with 112 as a prerequisite no problem. …”
PHYS 111 and PHYS 112 2 points, 0 comments
u/Lonely-Enthusiasm-75: “Is PHYS 112 kind of similar to 111 at all?”
Phys 121 midterm 1 point, 4 comments
“That was an absolute TRAINWRECK literally studied so diligently for it and it felt like such a smack in the face 😭 the practice midterm that was posted was a cake walk in comparison. …”
u/Organic_Midnight1999: “Phys courses tend to be really hard lol, plus ur doing Phys 121 and not Phys 112 or ECE 105 so it’s gonna be a big yikes. Just study really hard for the next exam, do lots of practice, and ask ur prof for help/clarifications. …”
Recommendation for pure science elective 1 point, 3 comments
“I am a cs student trying to select a pure science course as my 1B elective. What are some good choices? …”
u/Big_Steak7381: “for more interesting stuff, you can try taking PHYS 111/121 and PHYS 112/122 but depending on your previous experiences with physics it might be difficult and time consuming. …”
One stop shop for course selection+tips to all biomedical/science students 6 points, 3 comments
u/-Leviathan-: “… I also personally struggled with Physics 2 (PHYS 112). Ask for help when you need it. Second year Congrats, you are through your first year! You are now building on the fundamentals of your first-year knowledge, it is no longer review year. …”
u/bomankleinn01: “Is PHYS 112 and MATH 127 both required or one of them is required? I was researching it but i found some UW undergrad schedules say different things (probably because years are different)”
u/-Leviathan-: “… If you are in Biomed PHYS 112 will be required, while MATH 127 is technically not. …”
u/WorriedCurrent1789: “I believe they changed the required courses for biomed! The new biomed sequence has math 127, but not PHYS 112 listed as required.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
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