uwloo

PHYS 263Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity

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 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Newtonian dynamics of particles and systems of particles. Oscillations. Gravity and the central force problem. Lorentz transformations and relativistic dynamics.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • PHYS122 - Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • AMATH250 - Introduction to Differential Equations (0.50)
      • AMATH251 - Introduction to Differential Equations (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • MATH228 - Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry (0.50)
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
        • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
        • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
        • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • Must have completed the following:

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • AMATH271 - Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics (0.50)

Leads to

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 00167840 / 120TTh 10:00–11:20
LEC 701254343 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10174070 / 120F 11:30–12:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

41% liked it50% easy61% useful

From 91 ratings and 31 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • what is even the point.

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

  • Felt like I didn't really learn much of anything in this class, if you didn't memorize physics (which is apparently some people have done...) before this class it's not really of much use to you beyond a refresher from high school/first year

    Jul 2018 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This class seems easy but the little things you don't understand will get you. I really enjoyed the content but it was harder than expected.

    May 2018 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course starts with Newton's laws, and we basically derive the rest of classical mechanics from that. The tests were bad.

    May 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Something of a pointless course. The topics are the same as first year, but they just involve messier math so you walk out feeling exhausted but not really having learnt anything.

    Aug 2016 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

40 posts and comments in 33 threads mention PHYS 263, January 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 2022

Mathematical physics BM vs BS 2 points, 5 comments

“Hi, I'm entering my final year of high school and as such I began looking at applications for programs I want to join (mostly physics related). …”

u/jollymaker: “They are essentially the same program the only difference will be the upper-year class requirements. You also may have mathematicians teaching some of your classes compared to physicists in the …”

u/void_nemesis: “… There's only a few differences, like AMATH 271 vs PHYS 263 (classical mechanic) and PHYS 334 vs AMATH 373 (the second quantum course you take), but both sides can take the classes.”

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Spring 2022

How hard/good is PHYS 263? 1 point, 9 comments

u/shirayuki_aoi: “Math student here. Currently enrolled in PHYS 263 for winter term. This will be my first second-year physics course. Can anyone comment on the difficulties, profs or structures of the course? Really have no idea how it will be like, any input is appreciated!”

u/ManWithGoodHair: “If you're a math student why don't you take AMATH 271? It covers the same content but is more applied math focused, and Poulin is teaching it next term who is pretty great.”

u/ManWithGoodHair: “… I didn't take PHYS 263 but I liked AMATH 271 a lot more than PHYS 363.”

u/I_NoScopedUrMom: “I would definitely recommend against PHYS 263 if you don't have a formal physics background. It is really only for physics majors and/or people taking a lot of physics for some reason. Not really something you can jump into tbh.”

u/Gloomy-Impression-40: “Honestly, someone with good Calculus and DE background can do PHYS263”

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Advice for Thermal physics 0 points, 3 comments

“How is PHYS 358 overall? Is it a tough course? Is 80+ possible? Could someone please share their experiences about this course? Could someone please post an outline for it.”

u/neutrinorunner: “… But as a (perhaps not accurate) comparison, if you took Phys 263 and you didn't find it hard to understand and connect the concepts when doing the assignments, you should be in a good spot. I strongly suggest going to class, meet some people and forming a study group for this. …”

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No Words... 1,487 points, 35 comments

u/kicked-out-of-CS: “I sort of get what this means, but I truly want to understand what happened since I haven't taken physics since grade 12. Anyone care to explain?”

u/Illustrious_Sea39: “… Phys 263 hits you with working acceleration and velocity in spherical and polar coordinate vectors. (Look up acceleration in polar spherical coordinates) much harder than polar coordinates in high school. Thermal physics is ok. …”

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Winter 2020

Fall 2019

Phy 121 0 points, 4 comments

“How does one study for the midterm?”

u/MoistGochu: “practice problems???”

u/MoistGochu: “… For phys 263 and Lagrangian in 363, I used Schaum's theoretical mechanics. Not sure if the earlier parts of the book is easy enough for phys 121. …”

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Spring 2019

Phys 263 2 points, 1 comment

u/NeoAthos: “You already know it, you somehow worked through Astro, Quantum, Comp Phys and the ungodly E&M but here is that final hurdle, you know all too well that somehow you’re gonna hit this hurdle and go fucking tumbling down. …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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