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PHYS 125Physics for Engineers

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Physics

Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2024–25.

When it runs

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

Ran in 0 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Oscillations; simple harmonic motion. Wave motion, travelling and standing waves; transverse and longitudinal waves, including sound. Geometrical optics; reflection and refraction. Physical optics; interference and diffraction. Quantum physics; quantization of radiation; hydrogen atom.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
    • Enrolled in a program offered by the Faculty of Engineering

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • PHYS112 - Physics 2 (0.50)
    • PHYS122 - Waves, Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)

Leads to

Reviewed on UW Flow

62% liked it30% easy60% useful

From 66 ratings and 13 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This course felt a little irrelavent to my program. It was ok and the concepts were interesting, but it wasn't my favourite. We had Nanqin Mei and it was her first time teaching a course and it showed. Attendace was poor. Nanqin tried and was enthusiatic which helped, but some of the explanations could of been improved as well as guidance on how to approach different types of problems.

    Dec 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Guy below me yapping. Teacher bad, course is fine.

    Mar 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Teacher doesn't give correct formulas on formula sheet. Completely useless for the program. Teacher doesn't know how to teach, only a blessing for curving.

    Mar 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Definitely easier than PHYS 115. Hard before midterm but after it's light. Shouldn't be hard to pass

    May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • mid difficulty before midterm, bird course after midterms

    May 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

21 posts and comments in 20 threads mention PHYS 125, October 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.

Winter 2024

Fall 2023

I think I failed? 41 points, 20 comments

“Hi, I’m in 1A engineering and I think I failed my 1A term by 0.2 total average? I have a term average of 59.8, does that count as a pass? …”

u/crono760: “Many of the comments here are misleading. Whether a \term average\ gets rounded up or not depends on your engineering discipline. …”

u/suiyui: “Good comments, I just wanted to add that 1B MGMT is somewhat better than 1A based on my cohort's median going from 83% to 84% (it's somehow our best term) so there's still hope. The main GPA destroyer is PHYS125”

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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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Winter 2022

Spring 2021

pitch me your startup idea, round 2: midterms edition 7 points, 61 comments

“pitch me your startup idea™ returns for another week of pitching. let's see if we can do better (pls) as a recap, here are all of the startup ideas pitched last week. …”

u/tendstofortytwo: “Heated sidewalks on cold days, powered by a giant magnifying glass installed on top of buildings that concentrates sunlight onto the sidewalk. …”

u/10minuteninja: “send this kid straight to PHYS 125”

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Winter 2021

Offer from Mgmt Eng! But thinking what if other disciplines were better 3 points, 27 comments

“Hi there! I got an offer from Mgmt Eng. I’ve been SUPER excited. Mgmt Eng aligns with my interests and I’m excited about the classes and love the co-op opportunities. …”

u/1000Ditto: “ama mgmt”

u/1000Ditto: “as of rn, mgmts take mechanics 1 (infamous phys 115) waves/oscillations (phys 125) chem (che 102) materials (me 235 fuck you prof biro) thermo (me 250) mechanics of deformable solids (me 219) theyre planning to make a lot of these courses natural science (eg bio, earth science) …”

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Winter 2020

Winter 2018

What is management engineering like at Waterloo? 4 points, 59 comments

“I initially applied to ECE, but then I heard how applications to ECE went up by 30%, and quickly changed my first choice to management. …”

u/williamj2543: “… GENE 123 - Electrical Circuits MSCI 261 - Engineering Economics MATH 118 - Calculus 2 PHYS 125 - Physics MSCI 121 - Computer Programming MSCI 131 – Work Design and Facilities Planning Other than software, you can get pretty much any job, except for some ultra specialized stuff …”

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Advice for MECH 1B midterms? 3 points, 9 comments

“Looking at fellow mechs or anyone who took the following courses: ME115, MATH118, GENE123 and ME101. I'm a bit worried because I am quite behind in all my classes and it at this point, I'm fine with …”

u/Pamela-Handerson: “Just be happy that you have ME101 and only 5 courses in the term now. When I did 1B we had physics (PHYS 125) and programming (GENE 121) courses instead of 101 for a total of 6.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar