PHYS 342Electricity and Magnetism 2
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Physics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Electric and magnetic fields in media, auxiliary fields, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, electric and magnetic properties of matter.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- PHYS242 - Electricity and Magnetism 1 (0.50)
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7212 | 46 / 80 | TTh 11:30–12:50 |
| TUT 101 | 7394 | 46 / 80 | M 14:30–15:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
67% liked it31% easy77% useful
From 42 ratings and 15 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Very difficult assignments. The videos were not that helpful either. Marking seemed needlessly harsh. I don't know if it was a mistake, but there was a time when I showed my work and got the correct answer, but still got many marks taken off; nit-picking.
Jun 2022 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
In principal, this course is great-- a natural extension of phys 242. If you just look at Griffiths and do the problems you will probably be fine. If you have anybody but O'Donovan teach you this, you will probably be fine. However, if you have the misfortune of having O'Donovan teach you this, prepare to be disappointed in new ways by our department of physics and astronomy. Unclear just isn't good enough a word to describe the type of confusion he will instill in you, for most of the course, until I bothered to quit and learn it myself, I seriously felt that I knew less about the topic than before I had to disgrace my ears by listening to him lecture on it. Prepare to do assignments so…
Nov 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Assignments are too difficult comparing to PHYS242 .Marking seemed needlessly harsh got many marks taken off; nit-picking. Tutorial session and lectures are no help for assignments. L course.
Nov 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
lowk dont understand contents halfway through the course but the final exam used questions from assignments so im saved
Nov 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
I liked the course. Not gonna lie tho I was tapped out after midterms. Making the course use in-person exams was terrible.
Sep 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
36 posts and comments in 33 threads mention PHYS 342, September 2015 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
If you are attending the PHYS442 post-exam tutorial, please DM me immediately 2 points, 8 comments
“I am urgently trying to contact the prof and can't seem to be able to reach him. I cannot attend the tutorial as I will be on a flight.”
u/No_Marsupial_8574: “I understand this question doesn't help, but what's a "post-exam tutorial"? What is there left to do?”
u/No_Marsupial_8574: “I only asked because this seems like something he would do. I took PHYS342 this term, and it seemed he really wanted to socialize with us, but never had the proper chance.”
Spring 2024
Fun PHYS & AMATH Courses 5 points, 1 comment
u/eranand04: “seems like u have AMATH 250, MATH 237, PHYS 121. If u like lin alg: PHYS 234, 334 ,434, AMATH 373, 473, 474. If u like DE: PHYS 363, AMATH 361. If u like vector calc: PHYS 242, 342, 442”
Winter 2024
PHYS 342 grades 4 points, 5 comments
u/needsmoremaplesyrup: “does anyone know if the phys 342 grades are final? i got a weird grade and i feel like he's going to change it like he did on the midterm.”
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: “… But I guess the full equations and how to use them are not introduced until PHYS342 (which I am taking right now) As for not being as pressuring as HS... well... …”
Meanwhile in PHYS342 1 point, 14 comments
Spring 2023
PHYS 342 Nightmare 2 points, 0 comments
u/Patience_is_aVirtue: “Has anyone taken PHYS 342? I know it's really hard and apparently last term the midterm average was around 25%. How do people manage to pass this course if it's this bad? I might need to take it in the fall term.”
Fall 2022
Can someone please tell when the office hors for Phys 342 are? 1 point, 0 comments
How many of you think this is an excellent course load? BIOL 309, PHYS 342, CHEM 266, PHYS 363 and BIOL 308? 🤣 2 points, 8 comments
What is the hardest course you took in waterloo 29 points, 66 comments
u/purpplanet: “PHYS 342”
u/Gloomy-Impression-40: “PHYS 342”
Spring 2022
PHYS 342 1 point, 3 comments
u/Remarkable_Leg9657: “For those who took PHYS 342 this time, could you please share your experiences? Any input would be much appreciated. I also hear that there was a take-home final this time? Did that make the course any easier than it usually is? …”
Mathematical physics Course blueprint recommendations 3 points, 21 comments
“Hey everyone, I’m going into the mathematical physics program at Waterloo next year and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a sort of blueprint I could follow for courses because …”
u/Yu-Li: “… 373 PMATH 352 PMATH 365 / PMATH 343 PHYS 242 First coop term Do your first research coop PHYS 342 3B Fall AMATH 473 AMATH 351 PMATH 347 PHYS 442 (get override request) PHYS 475 (get override request) / PHYS 468 Change coop sequence 4A winter: AMATH 474 PMATH 863 AMATH 475 PHYS …”
Spring 2021
phys 342 3 points, 3 comments
u/koliho: “I've been panicking about taking this course next term and its to the point that I didn't sleep very well last night anyone that's taken it with Raffi online, thoughts? how was it? what was the grading scheme like? also what textbook did you use? …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them