Fall 2026

Introduction to Modern Physics

Introduction to modern physics covering kinetic theory, relativity, quantum theory origins, atomic structure, and topics in solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Duncan Carlsmith2.7/5Samyak Jain

Summary

1 / 7

Homework is reported as tougher than exams, with the course providing significant feedback on assignments.

Grade history

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

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

(PHYSICS 202, 208, or 248) and MATH 222. Not open to students with credit forPHYSICS 205, 244, or 249.

PHYSICS 241 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
/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 2.55/5 from 102 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: 3.0/5 raw quality · 2.5/5 difficulty · 2 reviews

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

Duncan Carlsmith is passionate but criticized for ineffective teaching that forces self-study, with one reviewer noting low attendance and minimal learning despite an easy grade.

Conversely, another review praises Carlsmith for interactive elements like demonstrations and online labs, noting that while lectures can be out of scope, the textbook helps and homework provides substantial feedback.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.85 GPA, 92.3% A/AB (n=65 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.64 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=54 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.70 GPA, 85.9% A/AB (n=71 letter grades).

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews for Robert Joynt describe a manageable class with generous exam grading and helpful lecture notes, though students must read the textbook. Reviewers found the weekly homework and textbook readings essential for understanding the material, while exams were considered manageable due to their short length and grading policies.

DUNCAN CARLSMITH is recorded teaching in Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MARSHALL ONELLION is recorded teaching in Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

ROBERT JOYNT is recorded teaching in Fall 2021. 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
DIS 301Classroom Instruction28 / 320
LEC 001Classroom Instruction60 / 650
DIS 302Classroom Instruction32 / 320
DIS 303Classroom Instruction0 / 00

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

Duncan Carlsmith's teaching style divides students: some find his lectures inefficient and self-teaching necessary, while others value his interactive demonstrations and engagement.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.85 GPA, 92.3% A/AB (n=65 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.64 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=54 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.70 GPA, 85.9% A/AB (n=71 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Homework is reported as tougher than exams, with the course providing significant feedback on assignments.

Students report frustration with self-teaching due to unclear lectures, but appreciate the use of additional materials like LHC data labs and brainstorming exercises.

Topics

  • Kinetic theory
  • Relativity
  • Experimental origin of quantum theory
  • Atomic structure and spectral lines
  • Solid state, nuclear, and particle physics

Skills

  • Understanding kinetic theory, relativity, and the experimental origins of quantum theory.
  • Analyzing atomic structure and spectral lines.
  • Exploring topics in solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.

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.

5 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 241 · Fall 2026

Introduction to Modern 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": "1272:754:015606",
    "course_id": "PHYSICS 241",
    "course_uid": "course_2c88e83afad33fe7414fd64f",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "015606",
    "source_subject_id": "754",
    "title": "Introduction to Modern Physics",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall, Spring"
  }
]
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 1
Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "609ade2477720903c74064e9e21b262aab63a7d6e094f8fbb7f6612ab5e31b6d",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}