uwloo

PHYS 363Intermediate Classical Mechanics

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: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Non-inertial frames of reference. Calculus of variations. Lagrangian mechanics. Coupled oscillations and normal modes. Hamiltonian dynamics.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • 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)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • AMATH271 - Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics (0.50)
      • PHYS263 - Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity (0.50)
    • Complete 1 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 the following:
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH227 - Calculus 3 for Honours Physics (0.50)
      • MATH237 - Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH247 - Calculus 3 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001702052 / 80TTh 14:30–15:50
TUT 101810452 / 80M 13:30–14:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

64% liked it40% easy84% useful

From 42 ratings and 12 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Extremely difficult, time-consuming, and boring course, but I think it depends on the Professor you get. We received very little relevant material to do highly complex problems. I think if it was explained better the assignments would not have been so hard. Assignments took around 1 month to get marks back, that's not acceptable.

    Nov 2021 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • midterm 1 avg was 40%

    Nov 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Would be a top 3 course if the prof just provided more resources like his class notes or a formula sheet

    Oct 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I had a pretty tough course load this term and this course gave me some room to breathe. There were 6 assignments spaces apart 2 weeks. We were given a week to do the midterm and final. They post the exams on monday and it's not like one of those timed assessments on learn where you have a window of a week to do it and it's timed for 2.5 hrs, they literally post it so every can see it at any time and you have 5 days to do it. It's like an assignment which you submit to learn. The course was really fair and the TAs were always responsive and very kind. Each assignment was worth 10% (so cumulative 60%), midterm (25%), final (25%), so if you mess up somewhere, you'll have a chance to do well…

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Stellar course. Actually, my favourite for Spring 2025. The content was super interesting, and Kevin made attending lectures very worthwhile. While I couldn't attend office hours because of time conflicts, Kevin's problem sets were very good at teaching you how to do the physics. They were demanding though, problem sets every week. That wasn't fun, but I will admit that it was worth it. I'd take this course again if I could wipe my memory out.

    Aug 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

35 posts and comments in 29 threads mention PHYS 363, 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.

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

Winter 2023

4xx math courses 4 points, 10 comments

“Are there any 4xx math courses that only require a 1st or second year course as a prerequisite? For example pmath340 only requires math135, but I was wondering if there are any other math classes …”

u/TheRealArjun: “AMATH 456, 475 (not sure if pmath majors usually take those Calc 4, ODE 1 prereqs), CS 467 / PHYS 467 / CO 481 (same course), CS 436, 487”

u/TheRealArjun: “… Though I skimmed through some old notes before for 442 (2009, 2015) and 456 (2015) Basically the two-thirds of 456 cover content from AMATH 271 and PHYS 363 more rigorously with the last third being an introduction to topics from control theory (AMATH 455 goes more in depth) 442 …”

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Fall 2022

Spring 2022

PHYS 359 Final not curved?? 25 points, 24 comments

“Hi guys, am I the only person who failed PHYS 359 with a really really bad mark that has never happened in my entire life? Also, did he curve up, or if anyone knows the final exam average?”

u/gesuskrist69: “sounds brutal, who taught it last term?”

u/gesuskrist69: “weird, I had him for phys 363 before and thought he was pretty good, wonder what happened this time”

u/Veraaa22: “My friend also had him for Phys 363 last fall and said he curved up for the final. Don't know why so strict on 359”

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Winter 2022

Fall 2021

Spring 2021

PHYS 358 and 363 2 points, 3 comments

u/123loststudent: “To those who have taken this course, how was it with the prof you had? What was the grade breakdown?”

u/neutrinorunner: “… As for Phys 363, I don't have much to say except that it's a Prof dependent course and you probably can try reading the material ahead of time.”

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Fall 2020

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar