PHYS 122LWaves, Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory
- Units
- 0.25
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Physics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
For students who have taken or are taking PHYS 122.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Corequisites
- Completed or concurrently enrolled in:
- PHYS122 - Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)
Antirequisites
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAB 001 | 6605 | 0 / 42 | Jan 18 14:30–17:20 Feb 1 14:30–17:20 Feb 22 14:30–17:20 Mar 8 14:30–17:20 Mar 22 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 002 | 6606 | 0 / 42 | Jan 19 09:30–12:20 Feb 2 09:30–12:20 Feb 23 09:30–12:20 Mar 9 09:30–12:20 Mar 23 09:30–12:20 |
| LAB 003 | 6607 | 0 / 42 | Jan 19 14:30–17:20 Feb 2 14:30–17:20 Feb 23 14:30–17:20 Mar 9 14:30–17:20 Mar 23 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 004 | 6923 | 0 / 42 | Jan 20 14:30–17:20 Feb 3 14:30–17:20 Feb 24 14:30–17:20 Mar 10 14:30–17:20 Mar 24 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 005 | 6924 | 0 / 42 | Jan 21 09:30–12:20 Feb 4 09:30–12:20 Feb 25 09:30–12:20 Mar 11 09:30–12:20 Mar 25 09:30–12:20 |
| LAB 006 | 6925 | 0 / 42 | Jan 21 14:30–17:20 Feb 4 14:30–17:20 Feb 25 14:30–17:20 Mar 11 14:30–17:20 Mar 25 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 007 | 6926 | 0 / 42 | Jan 22 14:30–17:20 Feb 5 14:30–17:20 Feb 26 14:30–17:20 Mar 12 14:30–17:20 Mar 26 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 701 | 2526 | 235 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
38% liked it42% easy45% useful
From 90 ratings and 9 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The TA's make or break your lab experience. My friends with other TA's didn't like this course but got good marks. I had a terrible TA so I hated the course and got bad marks for the same effort. Always make your spreadsheets before meeting with your group as that saves you SO much time. Prepare to not sleep for 2 days to hand this in on time. Hopefully it is better in person but good luck if it's online again
Apr 2021 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Better than PHYS 121L overall. Having that extra hour really helped with getting the report done on time. However, there were fair amount of broken equipment being used in the laboratory, which can be quite bothersome (I remember there was this one experiment my group wasted a lot of time just on getting the technology fixed). Compared to the chemistry labs, the physics labs are just straight terrible.
Jul 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Boring and tedious. You need to rush through the whole lab session to get it in on time.
May 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Basically just 121L continued. I think it went smoother since we had experience from the last term. Not super exciting, just got to do it.
May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The lab materials are broken and they expect you to get right values with the broken equipment
Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
15 posts and comments in 14 threads mention PHYS 122L, February 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.
Winter 2023
What’s been your easiest and hardest year so far? 10 points, 16 comments
u/TheRealArjun: “EZ: 1B - CHEM 123, MATH 138, PHYS 122/122L, PHYS 124, PHYS 175/175L Not EZ (tied in difficulty tbh): 3B - AMATH 353, AMATH 373, CS 436, CS 467, ECE 459, PMATH 332 4A - ECE 222, ECE 351, PHYS 434, PHYS 442, PHYS 454, PHYS 475 WT5 - ECE 350, ECE 454, Coop 5 4B is looking bad and …”
Fall 2022
Failed ECE106 10 points, 7 comments
“Hey guys, I had ece 106 last semester and I did horrible in it. I failed the midterm and the exam. I had no motivation to study this course, everyone always complained about it and all I could think …”
u/SwagFartUnicorn: “You can take NE241, you used to be able to take PHYS122 + PHYS122L but it seems like they removed that option. …”
Winter 2022
ECE 106 - Really stressed 8 points, 14 comments
“So I didn’t pass the course due to stipulation that I had to pass final or midterm (I failed both - but without stipulation I pass) What are my options here? …”
u/KoalaFucker: “… You can take a PHYS 122 (it's even offered online next semester if you feel like you would rather take a course than write an exam) and PHYS122L, you can take NE 241, and of course you can take ECE 106 again. …”
Winter 2021
How do I take PHYS122L if I am taking PHYS122? 0 points, 2 comments
u/newstudent1231312: “It says students must take PHYS122L along with PHYS122, but in the summer session, there is no PHYS122L? Are they basically the same thing? If I take one, I am enrolled in the other?”
Admissions / High School Megathread (Fall 2020) 316 points, 7,386 comments
“I think we lost track of the old one somewhere, and this is to also help reset the expiry date (these threads archive after six months) Engineering Admissions Blog: https://theroadtoengineering.com/ …”
u/LPNZR: “Math labs? What are they ?? Hey everyone I will be studying mathematical physics at the University of Waterloo, but I wanted to know what labs are in mathematics courses?”
u/Laeriana: “… labs are usually separate courses (denoted with an "L" in the course code, eg PHYS 121L and PHYS 122L) that involves direct experimentation time in a science laboratory proper testing concepts from the corresponding class in a practical manner. …”
Fall 2020
Physics 2 and Organic Chem 2 3 points, 6 comments
“Hey friends, I have completed my undergrad degree at McMaster and need to go back to school for some courses. Waterloo is closer to me where I live so I am looking to do the courses there. …”
u/TheRealArjun: “Phys 2 for sci: Phys 112 and Phys 112L Phys 2 for phys: Phys 122 and Phys 122L/Phys 132L Not too sure about differences the two Organic Chem 2 courses, 265 and 267”
Winter 2020
My first Phys Lab Course 5 points, 7 comments
“I've Phys132L this semester. It's my first physics lab course. I need some advice from you. I've already bought the lab manual. I want to know how I can prepare for the course ahead of time. …”
u/TheRealArjun: “i guess just read over the lab instructions, there are ten practical lab sessions, once a week”
u/TheRealArjun: “Yes, the likely reason is another lab course, Phys 122L has half of the labs in Phys 132L, so those 5 labs will likely include Phys 122L students and I guess due to scheduling/lab equipment, are in another building.”
Spring 2018
Need help regarding course selection for Phys 232L. 3 points, 2 comments
u/lichking786: “… Im a 3rd year physics students who switchrd into the program and had to do the PHYS 122L to 132L upgrade. I need to take PHYS 232L and Quest doesnt allow me to enroll since it doesnt understand that my 122L was upgraded. …”
Spring 2016
Thinking about taking 6 courses in my second semester. Is this unreasonable? 5 points, 15 comments
u/Blues_Clues29: “… The other 5 courses are: BIOL 239, PHYS 122/122L, PHYS 124, CHEM 123/123L, and MATH 128. I don't forsee any troubles handling an extra class, I'm generally on top of my work and have never had issues with having more work than I could handle before. …”
Winter 2016
Do lab marks count towards Honours Physics 65% average? 4 points, 2 comments
u/omruler13: “For courses like Phys 121 and 122, that count towards part of the 65% average needed, do the lab components courses (Phys 121L and 122L)?”
u/asylum19: “they count but are weighted less if they are .25 credits (like phys 121L and 122L) vs. the usual .5 credits per course”
Fall 2013
Anyone else can't see their Physics 121 mark on Quest? 3 points, 6 comments
“I can see all my grades except Phys 121 which is the one I'm not sure I passed. Cheers guys hoep you had a good Holiday.”
u/boodee: “My mark for phys 121 is up on quest and was up since the day marks were released.”
u/About23Koalas: “It depends on the section. Be patient, it'll get there. One year students had to go try and get their PHYS 122L lab book to find out if they had passed or not. Edit: Yes they used to check this.”
Fall 2012
What courses are you taking next semester? 10 points, 107 comments
“Now that exams are finally over, we can starting thinking about the Winter 2013 semester. What courses will you be taking? Any that you're anticipating and/or dreading?”
u/snario: “CS 146 MATH 138 MATH 136 PHYS 124 PHYS 122 PHYS 122L”
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)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them