PHYS 225Modelling Biological Physics

Units: 0.50
Faculty: Science
Subject: Physics

When it runs

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Introduction to modelling living systems and their components. Statistical methods in data analysis, curve fitting, including p values. Fourier series and transforms, structural analysis, including nearest neighbour distributions in biomedical applications. Introduction to methods for analysis of transport properties in biological systems. Use of computers in these areas.

Prerequisites

Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
  - CS114 - Principles of Computing for Science (0.50)
  - CS116 - Introduction to Computer Science 2 (0.50)
  - CS136 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (0.50)
  - CS146 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (Advanced Level) (0.50)
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
  - MATH116 - Calculus 1 for Engineering (0.50)
  - MATH117 - Calculus 1 for Engineering (0.50)
  - MATH127 - Calculus 1 for the Sciences (0.50)
  - MATH137 - Calculus 1 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
  - MATH147 - Calculus 1 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
  - PHYS112 - Physics 2 (0.50)
  - PHYS122 - Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)

Corequisites

Completed or concurrently enrolled in at least 1 of the following:
- MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
- MATH119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
- MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
- MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
- MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

PHYS 393

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	7191	60 / 105	TTh 08:30–09:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

39% liked it68% easy19% useful

From 28 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

Most people who think that this course is easy, seem to have an extensive background in statistics and mathematics. However, if you are a science student and you do not have an extensive background in statistics and mathematics, this course could be quite difficult. I would recommend anyone who is planning on taking this course, to please take that into consideration and take a course in statistics prior to taking this course. The assignments have been quite difficult so far, however the midterm was fair. I would recommend taking STAT 202 or STAT 220 before taking this course. Additionally, I do not understand why PHYS 112 or 122 and MATH 127 have been listed as the needed prerequisites for…

Oct 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW Flow Remove this
Great bird course for breadth and depth. So easy and low effort. Also found some of the content (like Brownian motion) interesting.

Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this
Took this as a CS student hoping it would be bird. Pre-midterm content is basic STAT 230 stuff. Post-midterm, we actually start doing physics unfortunately. Overall, obviously completely useless and incredibly boring.

Dec 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this
Brenda Lee is a very nice teacher!

Mar 2024 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this
I took this class initially with Dr. Ward, but later, due to some unknown reason, it was switched to Dr. Brenda Lee. This class may not seem very helpful nor interesting at first, but there are some really interesting topics covered later. One really important thing I learned in this class was how to properly calculate uncertainties for more complex equations, which is useful for future labs. Later in this course we learned about some more interesting biophysics topics. Midterm and Final were very fair.

Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

35 posts and comments in 26 threads mention PHYS 225, July 2014 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

Aug 20, 2024 Want to get ahead before fall 6 points, 8 comments

u/sin_cos_tan_: “I really want to get ahead in courses I’ll be taking this fall - EARTH 458 - PHYS 225 - PHYS 449 Any suggestions from anyone who’s taken these courses as to what I should brush up on right now to go into it a little more prepared? Can’t find any lecture material for these ones”

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Jun 5, 2024 Easy physics courses for a minor in physics 1 point, 2 comments

u/waterloobitch: “I am a SCIAVIA student looking to minor in physics. Currently in my 3rd year. Courses I have taken: Phys 121, 122, 225, 275, 234 Math 127, 128, 228, taking 227 next term. Suggestions will be appreciated.”

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May 29, 2024 fun second year phys astro elective ideas pls 3 points, 0 comments

“As the title says, id love to recommendations for any electrives phys astro students found enjoyable or beneficial in second year. Thanks in advance!”

u/Big_Steak7381: “… PHYS225 is another phys elective that combines statistics and biophys which is pretty interesting. A linear algebra course like MATH114 would be beneficial for when you take PHYS234, quantum 1. …”

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Winter 2024

Jan 30, 2024 After phys 122 for depth (math faculty) 1 point, 5 comments

“For context, I'm in cs(finished 2A, gonna go into 2B) and I have finished phys 122 (and trying for a depth in physics). …”

u/TheSilentLamb201: “I took phys 225. The first half was just stat. Second half was pretty chill too imo”

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Fall 2023

Sep 26, 2023 2 Courses over co-op good idea? 1 point, 8 comments

“Hey everyone, I'm a 2B Cs student thinking of taking MATH237 and STAT231 online (degree plan is BMATH CS). Heard STAT231 is brutal in person, would online be better? …”

u/Organic_Midnight1999: “I think u still have to write in person exams, and they r the same as the in person sections. U r basically just guaranteed recorded lectures. Math 237 was a pretty nice course. …”

u/Organic_Midnight1999: “… Phys 225 I believe is being offered online this term but it’s only for students in china or something like that.”

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Fall 2022

Sep 22, 2022 Is anyone in PHYS 225? 1 point, 0 comments

u/cardfos: “The course says it's at the 2nd year level but there's so much stuff that feels much more complicated. Let me know if anyone wants to join a study group or Discord so we can suffer together. To people that have taken the course in the past, how bad was it later on?”

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Spring 2022

Jul 16, 2022 Advice for phys 225 0 points, 0 comments

u/Remarkable_Leg9657: “How is PHYS 225 overall? Is it a tough course? Is 80+ possible? Could someone please share their experiences about this course?”

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Fall 2021

Sep 13, 2021 Anyone taking Phys225 this term? 0 points, 1 comment

u/South_Prize9319: “Where are the lectures? and no piazza?”

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Spring 2021

Jun 20, 2021 Computational physics (phys 236) or modeling life physics (phys 225) 2 points, 0 comments

u/rjln: “I need to pick between these courses. Has anyone taken them online and can talk about how they were? The workload doesn’t matter to me, but I need to be able to get a high mark”

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Jun 10, 2021 Phys 225 or Phys 256? 0 points, 4 comments

u/ToTheMoon782: “… I heard Phys256 and Phys225 are both pretty easy to get high marks, but during the two days I was in Phys256 in fall 2020 the course taught by Melanie Campbell was very unorganized. Who is teaching Phys256 in the fall? …”

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