A Modern Introduction to Physics is a calculus-based course covering mechanics, waves, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and modern physics with computation, aimed at Physics, AMEP, and Astronomy-Physics majors.
Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith
Students reported heavy homework loads and time-consuming lab reports, with programming components described as difficult and unconnected to lecture material.
Apply conservation laws (linear momentum, angular momentum, energy) to systems of particles to understand and predict their motion using both classical and relativistic formulations.
Understand the relationship between forces and motion by both calculating the motion of an object given the forces acting on it and also calculating the forces acting on an object given its motion.
Calculate the motion of objects under various constraints (linear motion, circular motion, coupled objects, oscillation) using both classical kinematics and special relativity.
Translate back and forth between physical concepts and the mathematics describing the motion of objects.
Perform measurements and analyze results in laboratory experiments using concepts from this course.
Source: UW Guide
All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
MATH 222 or concurrent enrollment
“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Raw average: 5.00/5 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.
Raw average: 2.53/5 from 182 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.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.61 GPA, 73.2% A/AB (n=71 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.79 GPA, 93.3% A/AB (n=45 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.21 GPA, 62.1% A/AB (n=29 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
DENIZ YAVUZ is recorded teaching in Fall 2017. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
DUNCAN CARLSMITH is recorded teaching in Fall 2010, Fall 2012, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
KAM ARNOLD is recorded teaching in Fall 2015. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MATTHEW F HERNDON is recorded teaching in Fall 2022, Fall 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MICHAEL WINOKUR is recorded teaching in Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
PETER TIMBIE is recorded teaching in Fall 2014. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
YIBIN PAN is recorded teaching in Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 46 | 0 |
| LAB 601 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 23 | 0 |
| DIS 301 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 23 | 0 |
| DIS 302 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 23 | 0 |
| LAB 602 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 23 | 0 |
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.
Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith
The course involves significant MATLAB coding and lab work, with students noting that lectures often do not align well with textbook readings or assignments.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.79 GPA, 93.3% A/AB (n=45 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.21 GPA, 57.4% A/AB (n=68 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.21 GPA, 62.1% A/AB (n=29 letter grades).
Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith
Students reported heavy homework loads and time-consuming lab reports, with programming components described as difficult and unconnected to lecture material.
Past student reviews · Matthew Herndon
Feedback on recent instruction was mixed, with some students finding lectures hard to follow due to unclear explanations, while others noted efforts to help with grades and reduce pressure.
Latest available · Spring 2026— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Through Spring 2026
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
A Modern Introduction to Physics
Recorded 2026-10-14[
{
"run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1",
"semester": "1274",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
"offering_id": "1274:754:021386",
"course_id": "PHYSICS 247",
"course_uid": "course_1666a5a286d44301d42ee8d0",
"term_id": "1274",
"source_course_id": "021386",
"source_subject_id": "754",
"title": "A Modern Introduction to Physics",
"credits_min": 5,
"credits_max": 5,
"typically_offered": "Fall"
}
]Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
{
"model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
"model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "0ad587402ae35ca7aefc6da633429c53cbb3e9b9aee339514af4825d80b23b51",
"requirements_status": "needs_review",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}