AI Rate Professor

Physics

Dan Finkenthal

PHYS120L · PHYS120120L · CHEM102 · PHYS120 · PSYC200 · PHYSICS20 · PHYS210 · LAB120 · PHY101 · PHYS200200L · PHY200201 · PHYS201 · PHYS232 · PHYS200 · PYSC200 · PHYSICS200 · PHY200 · 48 lifetime ratings

AI rating
70/100
RMP rating
4.0/5
Take again
62.5%
Difficulty
2.5

The decision

if you like conceptual storytelling physics and .

Best fit · Self Taught ProPassionate physics geniusHilarious lecturesDisorganized structureTest heavy with retakesSelf-study required
  • Many students call him brilliant, funny, and inspiring for physics lectures and labs.
  • Homework and , so self-teaching from book and solutions is common.
  • Passing is achievable with , and note cards, but a high A still needs real effort.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

58/100

Students can pass with , and lenient quizzes, but an A and self-study.

All evidence is in-person; .

Is the course easy?

Challenging

34/100

Physics content is demanding, and when lectures feel fun.

and lab courses.

Is attendance flexible?

Recommended

48/100

Lecture attendance is often flexible, but labs and .

In-person only; .

Is this professor recommended?

WorthIt

64/100

Strong praise for passion and humor outweighs organization complaints for .

Recommendation .

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Lenient

72/100

, and late homework flexibility soften hard physics.

Format shift

and corrections.

Workload

Moderate

44/100

and weekly quizzes adding steady time demands.

Format shift

All workload comments are in-person.

Teaching experience

Good

74/100

and humor stand out, though structure and email response are mixed.

Format shift

In-person only; no online comparison.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

72/100

Exams and and quizzes supporting but often graded late or lightly.

Format shift

and labs.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

48 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro

In-person physics with engaging, joke-filled lectures and , and test-heavy grading.

Main concern

Disorganized lectures and .

What students said

“Absolutely amazing physics professor. Super passionate and .”
PHYS232
“You'll do great if you can teach yourself.”
PHY200
“Does an amazing job of breaking down complex physics topics into easily relatable examples.”
PHYS201

Remote format

Online

0 reviews

Low confidence

No stored summary is available for this format.

Main concern

No main concern is stored for this format.

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Exams are concept-heavy multiple choice, often easier than homework, with .

Multiple ChoiceNote Cards AllowedExam RetakesPractice Exams

Assessment risk

Standard

58/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person exams use scantrons or multiple choice, sometimes with , and retakes.

Multiple ChoicePractice ExamsRetakesNotes Allowed
“Exams are scantron, but .”
PHYS201
“lets you use notes on the tests and .”
PHYS201
“retakes for +1/2 credit back and .”
PHY200

Online

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“If he is available for Physics 232, DROP, I am so glad I did, thank you Prof Finkenthal!”

Voice snapshots generated from 48 in-person reviews spanning introductory through modern physics, with no online sample. Credibility rating: High.

🎯 Teaching Quality

74/100

“His lectures were engaging and kept my attention the whole time.”

🧠 Subject Depth

34/100

“the , but they're the only resource you have.”

👍 Recommendation Split

64/100

“If ”

😂 Classroom Personality

80/100

“He's funny too.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • and
  • He made me want to come to class just because his stories are so funny

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

  • You'll do great if you can teach yourself
  • credit

Theme 3

🔬 About Labs and Experience

  • The
  • had at Palomar

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

48

Recent reviews read by the AI

48

Lifetime ratings

84/100

Evidence confidence

Forty-eight in-person reviews over two decades provide volume and detail, with a .

Inside 48 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 523
4 out of 513
3 out of 58
2 out of 52
1 out of 52

Course coverage

PHYS20014 reviews
PHYS2017 reviews
PHY2004 reviews
PHYS120L4 reviews
PHYS2324 reviews
Show 12 more courses
PHYS1203 reviews
PHYS200200L2 reviews
CHEM1021 review
LAB1201 review
PHY1011 review
PHY2002011 review
PHYS120120L1 review
PHYS2101 review
PHYSICS201 review
PHYSICS2001 review
PSYC2001 review
PYSC2001 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

9 reported outcomes

A range

5

A+ 2 · A 3

B range

3

B 3

C range

1

C 1

D range

0

No reported values

F

0

No reported values

No letter grade reported

0

No reported values