Fall 2026

General Physics

A calculus-based physics course for engineers covering electricity, magnetism, light, and sound.

offering recorded5 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Josh Weber4.4/5Ke Fang3.2/5Peter Timbie2.9/5 +16 more

Summary

1 / 7

Reviewers characterize the class as inherently difficult with tough exams, though the workload is often manageable. Some note that finals combine many concepts, while others report strict grading with no curve despite low test averages.

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

(PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, 247, orE M A 201) and (MATH 217 or 221). Not open to students with credit forPHYSICS 208 or 248.

PHYSICS 202 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Fall 2026

Josh Weber

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.70/5 from 43 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 4.6/5 raw quality · 3.9/5 difficulty · 23 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Josh Weber receives praise for explaining complex physics concepts clearly and engagingly. Reviewers note his passion and availability for student help. Conversely, some reviewers criticize his strict grading without a curve and mention that lectures can be rushed or lack sufficient examples.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.02 GPA, 33.8% A/AB (n=532 letter grades); Fall 2025: 2.82 GPA, 27.8% A/AB (n=558 letter grades); Spring 2026: 2.88 GPA, 28.9% A/AB (n=488 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 2.30/5 from 10 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Peter Timbie

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 2.71/5 from 73 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 3.7/5 raw quality · 2.9/5 difficulty · 9 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Peter Timbie attempts to make physics entertaining and interesting, though reviews disagree on his explanatory effectiveness. Some students find his lectures supplementary and demand heavy textbook reading, while others feel he fails to cover material adequately. Exams are consistently described as difficult or tricky, but grading is often reported as generous with curves.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 2.83 GPA, 36.9% A/AB (n=445 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

No course-specific feedback yet.

No course-specific feedback yet.

No course-specific feedback yet.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews of Matthew Herndon: Josh Weber is currently teaching PHYSICS 202. One review from 2026 indicates that a previous instructor's proof-heavy lectures were unhelpful, with the student explicitly stating they missed Weber, implying Weber's teaching style is preferred by that reviewer.

ALBRECHT KARLE is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2018. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

DON REEDER is recorded teaching in Spring 2007. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

GARY SHIU is recorded teaching in Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Fall 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

JEFFREY SCHMIDT is recorded teaching in Spring 2014, Spring 2016. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

JOSHUA WEBER is recorded teaching in Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MARSHALL ONELLION is recorded teaching in Fall 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MATTHEW F HERNDON is recorded teaching in Fall 2011, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

PETER TIMBIE is recorded teaching in Spring 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

RALF WEHLITZ is recorded teaching in Spring 2015, Fall 2016. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

SAMUEL HOKIN is recorded teaching in Spring 2013. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

STANISLAV BOLDYREV is recorded teaching in Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

YIBIN PAN is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2018, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Fall 2026

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction277 / 2801
LEC 002Classroom Instruction250 / 2651
DIS 301Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 302Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 303Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 304Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 307Classroom Instruction21 / 240
DIS 323Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 325Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LAB 601Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 602Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 603Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 604Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 607Classroom Instruction21 / 240
LAB 623Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 625Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 312Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 627Classroom Instruction23 / 230
LAB 629Classroom Instruction21 / 230
LAB 612Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 327Classroom Instruction23 / 230
DIS 329Classroom Instruction21 / 240
DIS 311Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 322Classroom Instruction25 / 240
LAB 611Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LAB 622Classroom Instruction25 / 240
DIS 328Classroom Instruction21 / 230
LAB 628Classroom Instruction21 / 230
DIS 310Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 610Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 309Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 609Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 318Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 618Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 319Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 619Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 320Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 620Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 305Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LAB 605Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 321Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 621Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 326Classroom Instruction25 / 241
LAB 626Classroom Instruction25 / 241
DIS 308Classroom Instruction0 / 00
LAB 608Classroom Instruction0 / 00
DIS 314Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LAB 614Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 324Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 624Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 331Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LAB 631Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LEC 003Classroom Instruction197 / 2650
LAB 606Classroom Instruction23 / 230
LAB 613Classroom Instruction18 / 240
LAB 615Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 616Classroom Instruction22 / 240
LAB 617Classroom Instruction25 / 241
LAB 630Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LAB 632Classroom Instruction25 / 240
DIS 306Classroom Instruction23 / 230
DIS 313Classroom Instruction18 / 240
DIS 315Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 316Classroom Instruction22 / 240
DIS 317Classroom Instruction25 / 241
DIS 330Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 332Classroom Instruction25 / 240

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records
Download part 1

Student experience

the class

Josh Weber is described by some reviewers as a phenomenal lecturer who explains complex topics clearly and makes the material engaging. These students highlight his passion and care, noting that his teaching helps them follow along despite the course's difficulty.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.04 GPA, 39.0% A/AB (n=418 letter grades); Fall 2025: 2.82 GPA, 27.8% A/AB (n=558 letter grades); Spring 2026: 2.88 GPA, 28.9% A/AB (n=488 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Reviewers characterize the class as inherently difficult with tough exams, though the workload is often manageable. Some note that finals combine many concepts, while others report strict grading with no curve despite low test averages.

Students find Weber's lectures effective and enjoyable, with clear expectations and strong availability for questions. Reviewers appreciate his passion and the clarity of his explanations.

Topics

  • Electricity and magnetism
  • Light and sound

Skills

  • Understanding electricity and magnetism
  • Understanding optics and acoustics

Grades

Historical instructor

Fall 2026 · Projected

Before grades are released

– average GPA

Approximate 80% prediction interval

About this estimate

The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.

The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.

8 earlier forecasts · 0.09 GPA average error.

Grades over time

Through Fall 2026

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1283 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Download part 1
Selected offering source records
PHYSICS 202 · Fall 2026

General Physics

Recorded 2026-09-07
Raw records
[
  {
    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:754:015600",
    "course_id": "PHYSICS 202",
    "course_uid": "course_8117ebeaf2f3accae0bb5cb6",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "015600",
    "source_subject_id": "754",
    "title": "General Physics",
    "credits_min": 5,
    "credits_max": 5,
    "typically_offered": "Fall, Spring, Summer"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
Download part 1
Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-09-07

Download the original dataset
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1Download part 2Download part 3
Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "fcb3cbd7422897d4e18bd6782ebbc6723151fe0ce0410561da0b721fe8f79c71",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}