Foundations of Physics
Physics · 3 hrs Lecture | 3 hrs Lab
Offered: Fall/Winter Only, Every Year
PHYS-1101 prerequisites
1 course appears in this chain, up to 1 level deep. Every route through it involves a choice, so nothing is forced.
Part of this course's requisite text couldn't be parsed into structure, so the chain below may be incomplete. The full wording is under “Requisite courses”.
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all of
all of
Physics 40S
any one of
Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S
Applied Mathematics 40S
all of
Both MATH-1103
any one of
Minimum grade of C in MATH-1103
the former MATH-1101
Add your completed courses to see which of these you've already done and what you could take next. They stay on this device.
Taking PHYS-1101 is a prerequisite for 9 courses directly, and opens 34 once their own follow-ons are counted.
Where PHYS-1101 counts
Required by 3 programs:
Counts toward 11 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
- BCHM 3-YEAR BSc IN BIOCHEMISTRY
- BCHM 4-YEAR BSc IN BIOCHEMISTRY
- BCHM HONOURS BSc IN BIOCHEMISTRY
- CHEM 3-YEAR BSc IN CHEMISTRY
- CHEM 4-YEAR BSc IN CHEMISTRY
- CHEM BSc (HONOURS) IN CHEMISTRY
- NSCI 3-YEAR BSc IN NEUROSCIENCE
- NSCI 4-YEAR BSc IN NEUROSCIENCE
- NSCI HONOURS BSc IN NEUROSCIENCE
- PHYS MINOR IN PHYSICS
- RT 4 YEAR BSc (RADIATION THERAPY)
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 71 of 141 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
This calculus-based course provides students with a working knowledge of the basic concepts underlying modern physics. Topics covered include the following: Introduction to Newtonian mechanics with special emphasis on the principles of conservation (i.e., energy and momentum); applications of Newtonian mechanics, including the simple harmonic oscillator and harmonic waves on a string; gravity theory, including planetary/satellite motion, escape velocity; equilibrium; rotational motion and angular momentum; fluids; the behaviour of waves, including sound waves, interference, and the Doppler effect; and an introduction to electromagnetic fields.
Requisite courses
Physics 40S and Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S or Applied Mathematics 40S [prerequisite(s)]; PHYS-1101L (lab) (must be taken concurrently); Both MATH-1103 and MATH-1104, or the former MATH-1101 (must be taken previously or at the same time as this course).
Note
This course is intended primarily for Physics majors but is also useful preparation for entrance exams for professional programs.
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.