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PHYS 124Modern Physics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Physics

Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2025–26.

When it runs

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

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introductory course in modern physics; includes relativity, quantum physics, atomic physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, and gravitation.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Earned a minimum grade of 70% in each of the following:
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:

Corequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Completed or concurrently enrolled in at least 1 of the following:
      • ECE106 - Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)
      • PHYS112 - Physics 2 (0.50)
      • PHYS122 - Waves, Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)
    • Completed or concurrently enrolled in:

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

77% liked it23% easy77% useful

From 139 ratings and 36 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Dr. Mann and this course were both funny. But Dr. Mann was funny in a good way and this course was funny in a bad way.

    May 2023 · didn’t like it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • An incredible amount of this course is so vastly beyond the scope of a first year's level. With the exception of a few units, like those of gravitation, special relativity, photons and the part of the nuclear physics module that actually bothered with nuclear physics, the subject matter appeared to me as if I had missed several years worth of physics and math pre-requisites.
    The first tutorial was interestingly called a "math review" while introducing us to a great deal of new material revolving around complex numbers in a panic inducing rush.
    The tests were rather comical in how much they needed to be curved in order to get a somewhat reasonable average out of a total lack of…

    Jul 2022 · didn’t like it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I got a decent mark in this class (80+) mostly because I am assuming the final got curved a ton however, in general just not a well structured course. So many topics were covered and it felt like we were constantly behind schedule and constantly not prepared at all for anything even though we sometimes spend days talking about the same concept. mastering physics was no help cuz the questions were for practically a different course lmao 0 relevance just a waste of time. While Epp is a very fun guy to listen to, once you ACTUALLY listen to him and try to understand what hes talking about it becomes clear that hes teaching at a very advanced and fast paced level thats hard for a first year to…

    May 2025 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I hated this course so much. Dr Epp constantly said we wont get too much into the math and try to make everything feel intuitive, however that was a lie. Nothing was intuitive. It felt very disorganized. This course was very discouraging. Would not recommend it to anyone unless its required.

    May 2025 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I withdrew to do this course later as it isn't a prereq for anything, but from the material I've seen, it would be much more productive to be a mandatory second-year course. I don't get why Epp keeps emphasizing that it "feels wrong" if physics majors aren't familiar with every topic in physics. Maybe by 4th year it would be so, but I believe it's much more productive to let students go through their first-year to see if they're mathematically confident and still interested for physics first, rather than potentially disrupt both the confidence and interest in 1B.

    Feb 2025 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

105 posts and comments in 87 threads mention PHYS 124, March 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.

Fall 2024

What course / prof taught you the most or changed your perspective on the world the most? 36 points, 19 comments

“I have a co-op on campus next term and it’s giving me a lot of free time because it ends at 3:30. I’d love to sit in on a class and use my time to learn something interesting. …”

u/TRMNLBlood: “Take any course with SNEW. Real Analysis if you care for math. Going to Epps phys 124 not a bad idea either especially if you just wanna listen and zone out.”

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Winter 2024

Fall 2023

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/kalashnikovgobrrrr: “Canadian high schools don't teach concepts like complex numbers, etc as well. That's why a lot of the math/physics is gonna be review. …”

u/kalashnikovgobrrrr: “… If you know it, consider it review when you cover them (which, if you're in Physics, you'll encounter them in PHYS124 and MATH228 first), which is always good to have. If you don't, then the profs will teach it. …”

u/kalashnikovgobrrrr: “… If you're hungry for learning new concepts you'll definitely like PHYS124.”

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Spring 2023

Speedrunning a Physics Minor 1 point, 8 comments

u/theGooseWatch: “… I'd need an override into PHYS 124, is that easy to get?”

u/FireMaster1294: “Phys 124 is the “haha fuck you we only let in whoever we want” course. Basically look at who the prof is and read up their rate my prof reviews. If they’re chill, they’d probably appreciate someone who genuinely wants to take the course. But I’m gonna warn you: you will suffer. …”

u/painpran: “you can easily get a into phys124 with any first year phys class like 111 or 121, but you need a 70% in 111 and a pass in 121. however 124 is probably the most interesting yet the most wack class i’ve taken so far. that gr assignment still keeps me up sometimes. …”

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Winter 2023

Biggest curve you've been gifted with 67 points, 36 comments

“Seeing some of the reactions to marks being released has me thinking. What was the biggest curve you ever received? Exam or course wise. Let's give some hope to others. …”

u/Pitiful_Following_68: “Phys 124; They removed a question completely from the final; I had a 100% before they removed it, and since there were only 4 questions my grade went beyond 100% (highlight of my undergrad, it’s only gone downhill from there) All my other curves were just regular ass 3%-5% …”

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First years 254 points, 50 comments

“I thought the first years would’ve been humbled by now from their midterms, but god damn. Not only is this batch of first year statistically more stupid (would use stronger language, but will …”

u/Jxrden_Boi: “as a science first year, i’d say around 95% of my peers have definitely been humbled, almost desensitized to failure”

u/Roughly6Owls: “Who's teaching Phys122 these days? Is Robert Mann still doing Phys124?”

u/amuii122: “Mann is still doing Phys 124 yes”

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Winter 2022

Is anyone in physics and astronomy? 3 points, 7 comments

“Hi, I'm a 11'th grader planning on pursuing a degree in physics and astronomy. Yes I know that it's hard and that I'd have to do a PHD but I'm ok with that. …”

u/kalashnikovgobrrrr: “… PHYS124 - Modern Physics. Very very interesting course with the potential to have very very hard problems. Extremely theory based and basically dives into the math behind stuff like general relativity. …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar