PHYS 275Planets
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Physics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Terrestrial and gas giant planets in the solar system, asteroids and comets. Extrasolar planets and astrobiology. Star and planet formation.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7192 | 149 / 200 | TTh 10:00–11:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
67% liked it48% easy43% useful
From 60 ratings and 14 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The course content is extremely interesting. It really gives you a deeper appreciation of the Universe and how our solar system came to be. There is very minimal math required (two simple integrals the entire course and then just basic algebra), which is nice.
The homework assignments usually don't take very long (around an hour) and are fairly representative of the types of questions asked on the exam.
However, the exam questions were fairly hard compared to the homework assignment questions. They feel like they should be easy (and some are), but it's easy to take the wrong approach towards the question and get a completely different answer.
Overall, a super interesting course that I…Jan 2023 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Would /strongly recommend/ background in higher level math (300+) as content can be quite difficult if the background is not there. The physics prereq is insufficient, the assignments were not easy. Examples: unnecessary chemical composition of atmospheres, gravitational equations, non-inertial reference frames.
Lots of cool content that's fun to learn, just... would rather not do it for marks.Oct 2018 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Needlessly difficult. Balogh has said time and time over that the course has people without a background in physics, but I really can't see them doing well, seeing as how I DO have a background in physics and my highest assignment grade is 60%. What's nice is (with Balogh at least) that only 50% of the course is assignments/quizzes, and the other is an essay, so at the very least non-phys students can pretend they will almost not fail.
Anyways, the entire course is an awful textbook. The course structure is as follows:
1. Read some select chapters from the textbook. These will make you fall asleep because they are more dull than your grandfather telling you the same newspaper article for…Nov 2021 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
You will fare well with a good grounding in calculus and classical mechanics. Requires lots of physical intuition for the orbital dynamics part, and I recommend having taken PHYS175 or something to deal with the bits relating to atmospheric physics (scale height etc reminds me of the stuff we did with stars in 175). With proper preparation this class is not super hard
Dec 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Not an easy course, nor has it served me any use. I went into this course looking to learn lots about mechanics and interaction between planets but ended up memorizing 400 pages of random material ranging from particle interaction to chemical composition of atmospheres that I forgot instantly after the exam. Take something a little more interesting or easier.
Dec 2012 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
41 posts and comments in 34 threads mention PHYS 275, July 2013 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
Birdy Physics Course? 3 points, 5 comments
“Hi guys! I need some course requirements to graduate on time, and I just need one more Physics course. Are there any physics courses you'd recommend? The less work the better. …”
u/DARKSC0UR: “PHYS 476. Jokes aside I would try one of the programming ones (assuming you can take them), or PHYS 275.”
Spring 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.”
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: “You could try your hand at PHYS275, Planets. Typically no exam, just assignments, quizzes and an essay. PHYS225 is another phys elective that combines statistics and biophys which is pretty interesting. …”
Fall 2023
PHYS 275 Textbook 1 point, 0 comments
u/Patience_is_aVirtue: “Hello everyone, I am looking for an e-textbook; Fundamental Planetary Science (updated 2019 version) by Jack J. Lissauer, Imke de Pater. Does anyone have it and would like to share it?”
Spring 2023
Buying PHYS 275 Textbook 1 point, 1 comment
u/Fayzulloh: “If you have the PHYS 275 textbook Fundamental Planetary Science by Lissauer et al, I'll buy it off of you, let me know the price. As long as it's less than $80”
Fall 2021
Is SCI 238 feasible without going to any classes? 0 points, 5 comments
“Will be on a co-op term (not in Waterloo) and I'm thinking about doing SCI 238 for the breadth and depth requirements. They only offer it in-person”
u/Flyinggoose26: “Took phys275 with Michel rich in person and SCI238 with fich too but online. His courses are set up extremely hard for no reason at all. …”
Course outline for Phys 375 (Stars) 5 points, 5 comments
“Does anyone happen to have a course outline for Phys 375? Preferably from back when the class was taught in person. …”
u/External-Bar-9818: “Are you currently doing phys 275?”
Spring 2021
Anyway I can prepare for PHYS 275? 2 points, 1 comment
u/Blaster167: “I’ve done PHYS 121, 122, and 124. What can I do to prepare for PHYS 275?”
How hard would you say this courseload is for 2A? 2 points, 6 comments
u/Blaster167: “Math 237 Math 245 AMath 250 CS 234 Phys 275 Been thinking about whether or not I should swap Math 245 with something easier.”
u/TheRealArjun: “… Phys 275 isn't really useful if you already took Phys 175 unless you're really interested in the content or are planning to do an astrophysics minor, might be more worthwhile to swap it for CS 246 or something.”
Fall 2020
This course is wack! ("Mean = 30, Median = 10") 98 points, 13 comments
u/dotuanhiep: “Which course is that?”
u/Paul_A_M_Dirac1: “Isn't Avery Broderick teaching it this term? I had him for Phys 275/375 and he was excellent.”
Spring 2020
Those who have taken phys 275 1 point, 5 comments
u/NASA_rings: “I’m not a physics student but I’ve taken intro to astronomy (SCI 238) I know that’s nothing a like how is phys 275 just overall and general aspects. Also Michael balogh is teaching it this term.. thoughts on him?”
Winter 2020
Help with course selection 1 point, 1 comment
u/nayhul21: “… I have already done phys 121, phys 112, phys 275, emls 101, emls 102, geog 201, fine 130, chem 120, sci 206, &x200B; Thank you!!”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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