Spring 2027

Introduction to Modern Physics

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

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 Duncan Carlsmith2.7/5

Summary

1 / 6

Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith

Homework was tougher than exams, and lectures sometimes went beyond the course scope, though the textbook provided helpful support.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Explain the fundamental origins of quantum mechanics, including the photoelectric effect, black body radiation, and particle-wave duality.

  • Use qualitative, dimensional, and approximate techniques (e.g. uncertainty principle) to estimate quantum mechanical properties.

  • Calculate properties of a quantum particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen atom.

  • Calculate the interaction of radiation with quantum systems including atomic transitions and lasers.

  • Calculate basic spin states of quantum particles, and interactions between spins.

  • Calculate the motion, energy, and momentum of relativistic particles and transform these between frames of reference.

  • Calculate properties of the nucleus, including internal energy states, excitations, radioactive decay, and nuclear reactions.

  • Calculate basic decay and interaction properties of particles, using conservation laws.

Source: UW Guide

Grade history

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average GPA
letter grades
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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 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

Spring 2027
Adjusted rating
RMP 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.

Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith

Student feedback on Duncan Carlsmith's teaching was mixed; one reviewer described the course as self-directed and easy, noting that lecture explanations were less efficient than reading the textbook, while another highlighted engaging demonstrations and online labs. The second reviewer also stated that homework was tougher than exams and that the instructor provided substantial feedback, though lectures sometimes exceeded the course scope.

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

Past student reviews · Robert Joynt

Historical student feedback indicated that Dr. Joynt's lectures followed the textbook closely, included weekly homework, and posted helpful notes. Exams consisted of three problems, with only the best two graded, and students described the grading as generous and the class as manageable.

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

Spring 2027

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction0 / 800
DIS 301Classroom Instruction0 / 400
DIS 302Classroom Instruction0 / 400

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

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith

Students found the course engaging with demonstrations, videos, and an online LHC lab, emphasizing active participation and discussion.

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

Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith

Homework was tougher than exams, and lectures sometimes went beyond the course scope, though the textbook provided helpful support.

Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith

One student felt lectures were less efficient than reading the textbook and that the instructor prioritized passion over teaching effectiveness.

Topics

  • Kinetic theory and relativity
  • Quantum theory origins and atomic structure
  • Solid state, nuclear, and particle physics

Skills

  • Explain fundamental origins of quantum mechanics
  • Calculate relativistic particle properties and frame transformations
  • Calculate nuclear properties and reactions

Grades

Latest available · Spring 2026— not enough history to project Spring 2027.

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

A
AB
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BC
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Grades over time

Through Spring 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

1280 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.

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Selected offering source records
PHYSICS 241 · Spring 2027

Introduction to Modern Physics

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records 
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  {
    "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1",
    "semester": "1274",
    "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1274:754:015606",
    "course_id": "PHYSICS 241",
    "course_uid": "course_2c88e83afad33fe7414fd64f",
    "term_id": "1274",
    "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
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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-10-14

View the dataset on Hugging Face
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

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Model & dataset provenance 
{
  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "eba5d46ff1b560f9f8d8e4391d16459421a32db9cf30d26d9beee69889791b98",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}