uwloo

PHYS 115Mechanics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Physics

When it runs

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

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Brief review of kinematics. Particle dynamics, work, energy, conservation of energy. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions, rotational kinematics and dynamics, conservation of angular momentum. Equilibrium of rigid bodies.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Students must be in level 1A
      • Students must be in level 1B
    • Enrolled in a program offered by the Faculty of Engineering

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:

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 0017009123 / 120MWF 09:30–10:20
MWF 09:30–10:20
Oct 8 12:30–13:20
Nov 5 12:30–13:20
Nov 19 12:30–13:20
LEC 0027010129 / 120MWF 15:30–16:20
MWF 15:30–16:20
Oct 7 13:30–14:20
Nov 4 13:30–14:20
Nov 18 13:30–14:20
TUT 101701162 / 60T 14:30–16:20
T 14:30–16:20
TUT 102701261 / 60T 14:30–16:20
T 14:30–16:20
TUT 103701364 / 60T 10:30–12:20
T 10:30–12:20
TUT 104732265 / 60T 10:30–12:20
T 10:30–12:20
TST 2017421252 / 240Oct 27 16:30–18:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00169031 / 120TTh 10:00–11:20
TTh 10:00–11:20
Jan 11 15:30–16:20
Jan 18 15:30–16:20
Mar 8 15:30–16:20
LEC 00269950 / 120TTh 14:30–15:50
TTh 14:30–15:50
Jan 11 13:30–14:20
Jan 18 13:30–14:20
Mar 8 13:30–14:20
LEC 70125940 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10169041 / 60M 12:30–14:20
M 12:30–14:20
TUT 10269710 / 60M 12:30–14:20
M 12:30–14:20
TUT 10369970 / 60F 14:30–16:20
F 14:30–16:20
TUT 10469980 / 60F 14:30–16:20
F 14:30–16:20
TST 20169961 / 240Feb 23 10:30–12:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

43% liked it18% easy74% useful

From 368 ratings and 97 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Wow this was a absolute shi*tshow of a course. EASILY the worst course in 1A and the online requirement did not help. Material is HARD. You thought you were good in phys in HS-think again. Class average for the first term test was 46%. People started doing so bad on the weekly Mobius assignments that the answers were then provided at the end with an option for another try. Quizzes were also so hard that the TA started providing similar worked sample problems each week beforehand. Not only is the material difficult, but the teaching team provided one of the worst (if not the worst) learning experiences I have ever taken part in. The lectures on zoom were disorganized, the PPTs were missing…

    Dec 2021 · didn’t like it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This is an extremely difficult course once you get past midterms and move onto angular motion, statics, and rolling motion. The pre-midterm content is very much a review of high school concepts, but the professor taught it in an absolutely horrible and useless way ("make a table!"). The midterm exam was much easier than previous years, though the average was still lower than a normal course. The questions are extremely difficult at times, and lectures do not reflect the assignments. However, the course grade distribution is a big plus, as the midterm is worth 20% and the final, only 40%. Best of luck.

    Oct 2024 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • You will relearn everything necessary for your degree in later courses because the engineering department has no faith in this course to teach anyone any valuable concepts.

    Jan 2026 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • High school physics until midterms, ramps up a bit afterwords but still fairly simple. Karen Cummings stopped communicating with class before the final, canceling all office hours, not posting any info about final and did not answer any emails from the class.

    Jan 2025 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Horrible prof made the course way worse than it is. We had to use this shitty software called Mobius to do our homework which gives incorrect answers half the time and made you second guess yourself every question.

    Sep 2023 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

269 posts and comments in 198 threads mention PHYS 115, June 2011 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

ece105 mc 3 points, 2 comments

“Upper years How did y’all study for the multiple choice on the final? For the midterm, there were a few past midterms but there’s only one past final.”

u/1000Ditto: “Look up Phys 115 as well, ece105 and phys115 are the same course plus like 1 weeks”

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Spring 2024

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/ConsequenceNo3618: “… I would recommend it as a first step The comments say it's easy but I've taken the anti-req PHYS 115 and got a 54% on it so be careful. …”

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1st yr Management Engineering Questions: 3 points, 3 comments

“This coming fall, I'll be joining MGTE. And I was wondering if anyone taking MGTE could answer these questions below: 1) How heavy is the coursework for first yr in general? …”

u/sickomoder: “… for 1b MSE 131 is free, english course is free, PHYS 115 and GENE are where you'll suffer though. calc 2 is also much harder than calc 1 IMO, and for the science elective just take an online course like intro geology or intro hydrology. 1 tip hit up weef office if struggling 2. …”

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Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Actually failing out of waterloo 💀 76 points, 25 comments

“Somehow i was convinced to take SE over CS, i just screwed up the calc midterm and now we have ece105 coming up. …”

u/AirPodGoose: “Robbins worst profe ive had. In my help session for phys 358 he only taught stuff that didnt come in the final💀💀💀”

u/epicboy75: “Matthew Robbins? We had him for phys 115 in F2021, what a clusterfuck of a class. Him and Mann were my mortal enemies for the term lol.”

u/ehhthing: “They can't fail too many people in ECE 105/106 otherwise the class sizes for next year balloon too high and that causes chaos. Expect up to the bottom 20 percent or so failing ECE 105/106. …”

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First year physics 1 point, 7 comments

“Why is it just grade 11 repeat? If we got into gr 12 physics, then waterloo, we obviously know gr 11 physics. They’re reteaching kinematics and impulse?? Why??? …”

u/epicboy75: “I took phys through high school and Phys 115 kicked my ass”

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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: “That implies you'll be taking PHYS115/125 like many other engineering programs Not sure what the difference between PHYS and ECE first year physics is but from experience I can assure you”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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