updated: Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:51 PM

Cheaper Desalination

Class Requirements

12 Weekly Homework Assignments
25 points each (300 pts)


12 Weekly Quizzes
25 points each  (300 pts)


12 Weekly Labs
25 points each  (300 pts)

Semester Chemistry Project
 (100 pts)

4 Article Reading Assignments
50 points each  (200 pts)

4 Tests
75 points each  (300 pts)


Total Points - 1500

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June 16, 2009
Study Guide Quiz 3

Chapter 4Concepts: Types of Forces, Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation,Derivation of Kepler’s Law, Cavendish's Experiment, Galileo's Experiment, Weight, Normalforcelessness, Normal Force, Frictional Forces, Tension Force, Static Equilibrium, FreeBody Diagrams, Sum of the Forces, Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18
Focus on Concepts: any
Basic Problems: 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 54, 73, 77
Medium Problems: 44, 47, 48, 58, 62, 81, 76, 85, 89, 101, 102, 105, 114
Chapter 5Concepts: Uniform Circular Motion, Centripetal Acceleration and Force, Newton’s Law of Gravitation, Derivation of Kepler’s Law, Artificial Gravity, Vertical Circular Motion (the Ferris Wheel Problem on my website)

Examples: 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13
Focus on Concepts: any
Basic Problems: 5, 8, 14, 41
Medium Problems: 16, 19, 20, 21, 33, 38, 42, 43, 44, 46, 54, 60

June 1, 2009
To the students who cannot purchase an access code, read the following.

I’ve opened up access to the course so your students can access the content while we wait for the eCommerce link to be posted. I don’t post these, so I am not sure how long they usually take to go live or what is involved in making that happen. I would think it will be today or tomorrow at the latest though.

For the time being, your students can just go to the URL that you gave them and enter their email address and password. They will not be prompted for a reg code. Once the eCommerce link is live, I’ll close the access and they will just be prompted to enter a reg code, which they will have purchased. If students already entered a reg code, their access will not be changed.

Chapter 1 Assignment is due Tuesday June 2 at 11 pm.


May 22, 2009
     Information for Your Summer School Students

Following are some tips to help you to get your students started using WileyPLUS.

1. Before your students can access the course and register, the Master Course Administrator must create at least one class section.

2. You must give your students the WileyPLUS class section URL to log into and let them know if they can self-register.

3. Before your students can register (if self-registration is allowed) or log into your WileyPLUS class section for the first time, they must accept a license agreement and type in a registration code. Your students can obtain a registration code in one of three ways:

    a. If they buy a new textbook, they automatically receive a registration code in their book at no extra charge to them.

    b. If they buy a used textbook, they can purchase a registration code online from Wiley or from the campus bookstore, if they stock it. The cost of a used textbook plus the cost of a registration code often comes out to be the same as buying a new book.

    c. Because the entire textbook is online in WileyPLUS, if your students are comfortable using an online book, they can purchase a registration code without buying a textbook from Wiley or from the campus bookstore, if they stock it. After buying online access without purchasing a textbook, some students may decide they require a hardcopy of the book. Several weeks after purchasing an online registration code from Wiley, your students will receive a coupon allowing them to buy a new book for 50% off the price of a new book. The purchase of the online registration code and the 50% off promotion is often works out to be the same cost or slightly less than buying a new textbook. (back)

May 5 2009

Study Guide for Quiz 6

I want to make myself available on MTW for everyone. Please see me if you need to.
I will have office hours on

Monday from 8-10 am for personal appointments only. Just drop by.
Monday from 10-11:45 am for homework or problem solving.
Monday from 1:45-3 pm for problem solving or individual appointments.

Tuesday from 10-11 am for personal appointments. Just drop in.
Tuesday from 3-4:30 pm for homework and problem solving.

Wednesday from 8-10 am for personal appointments
Wednesday from 10-11:45 am for both problem solving.
Wednesday from 2-4 pm for personal appointments and problem solving.

If you need to see me in private please say so and we can meet in private. I am also available over email for any individual problems. Please email me soon.

April 7, 2009

Updated Chapter 9 Study Guide Quiz Problem Example
Ch 9 - 70, 44 , and ?? / Ch 10 - 40, 52, and ??
You need to practice the problems before I put them up on the web.

If you are missing class you need to get notes. I have gone over many problems in class.

March 24, 2009

You can take Quiz 4 on Friday before Spring Break or the Monday after Spring Break.
For those taking the Quiz 4 on Friday, I will have office hours on Friday from 10-11:40.

Here is Monday's Reduced Study Guide for Quiz 4
I will send out an equal but different Study Guide for those taking the quiz on Monday.

For either Friday or Monday, you may bring a 3x5 card filled on both sides.
Get there as early as possible.

March 5, 2008

Quiz 3 on Monday (no office hours on Monday, please)

1. I will ask you to Draw Freebody Diagrams and Sum the Forces or completely solve one of these problems below

      Problems: Ch 5 (4, 15, 29, 41, 46, 48) - Ch 6 (Ex 5, 49, 53, 60, 62, Solve for the
      Mass of the center of a system using Kepler’s Third Law)

2. I will ask you to explain something about these diagrams

      Diagrams: Ch 5 (12, 19) - Ch 6 (13, 15, 19)

3. I will have basic questions on

      Friction, Elastic Forces, Forces of Nature
      Derivation of the mass of the Earth or Density of the Earth, Derivation of Kepler’s
      Third law From Elegant Universe, What is Gravity?, Cavendish’s Experiment,
      Weightlessness, WMAP on m Website.

_____________________
Feb 28, 2009

Hello everyone

I had very good office hour sessions this week. If the crowd gets larger we will move to a bigger room. Please come prepared to show what you know as well as to clear up any problem areas.
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READ the Chapter! READ the Chapter! READ the Chapter! READ the Chapter!

If you are not reading and practicing the chapter material, you are ensuring a C+/B- grade. You need to know the material before you can solve problems. I will ask you if you have done the examples. So please do them.

DO the examples! DO the examples! DO the examples!
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I have posted grades on This website. Please take a look. Make sure that your grades match what you believe them to be.

There are many C's right now. I expect there to be a lot of movement up the scale in the coming weeks.

Homework is important. You should be thinking about the homework as you are doing it. You should do homework that will help you learn the concepts as well as problem solving. Just getting the homework out of the way will ensure that you do not get a higher grade. Do not wait for me to cover the material in class. Get ahead and stay ahead.

Feb. 25, 2009

Hi everyone

My new office hours

Office Hrs: MF 10-12 am MF 1-2 pm T-TH 3-4 pm

Feb 25, 2009

Chapter 5 - Applications of Newton’s Laws

Concepts: Problem Solving Strategy 5.1, Sums of the Forces, Freebody Diagrams, Friction, Elastic Forces
Figures: 12, 19
Examples: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11,12Concept Questions: 1, 6, 10, 11, 12
MC Questions: 1,3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13
Basic Problems: 1, 2, 4, 5, 30, 31, 54, 55
Medium Problems: 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 23, 29, 35, 36, 41, 46, 48, 67, 86Chapter 6 - Circular Motion and Gravitation

Concepts: Forces in Circular Motion, Motion in a Vertical Circle, Newton’s Law of Gravitation, Weight, Kepler’s Laws, What is Gravity, Density of the Earth.
Figures: 2, 4, 5, 8, 13, 15, 19
Examples: 1, 2, 3, 58, 9, 10

Basic Problems: 2, 7, 10, 14, 16, 19, 26, 33, 34
Medium Problems: 11, 12, 30, 44, 49, 53, 60, 62, Mass of Sun, Earth, Galaxy from Kepler’s Law

Feb. 10, 2009

Hello everyone

I want everyone to know that so far this semester, I have met some of the most interesting students in office hours. Every time I meet one of you I am astounded. I know you think I am buttering up you and whispering sweet-nothings in your ears---but that is not true! Please come to office hours. The more students the better. Come prepared. Have a specific question on a specific problem. There are other students there that may want to work with you as well.

This Quiz may have been a wake-up call for many of you. There are 6 Quizzes, so this will not hurt your chances at a good grade. But you need to get motivated. Go to a professor, Instructor or advisor in your major and ask them why physics is important. Find the needed reasoning as to why physics and problem solving are necessary and important.

Here are my suggestions for improving your grade

1. Always realize that you are fully equipped to solve these problems. All my students are smart, clever, intelligent and most able to get at least a B in my class. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. Get on top of your studies.

2. You must read the chapter. This is important. The book is NOT irrelevant. There is a lot of pertinent and good information in the chapter. Your ability to read, comprehend and summarize different technical manuals is critical to your future development as professionals.

3. You must work out the examples provided in the book as well as on my website. If you cannot understand a problem with a full solution how will you be able to do any problems at the end of the chapter? You must understand these solutions before moving on. Stop relying on someone else to do this for you. Get motivated. . .

4. Read the Problem with the intention of translating the problem into a clear and complete diagram. Your ability to draw a diagram will prove to you that you know how to proceed. Include a coordinate axis and all known values. Be precise. This is training for you.

5. Write out the motion equations or any other appropriate equation. Use these equations to find the unknown values.

Read the chapter first, do the examples, work in a group, or come prepared to office hours. Most important of all---do it yourself, first! Don't rely upon others to constantly help you when you could do it by yourself. Learn to be self-reliant. Build your confidence by being proactive.

Chapter 3 - Two Dimensional Motion

MC Questions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16

Problems: [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13], [14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22], 27, [31, 32, 33, 38],
                 [45, 52, 58,65,67] (please understand that many of these problems are similar).

Chapter 3 Figures: 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 23, 24

Physics Concepts

  a. What is projectile motion?
  b. What is the key to analyzing projectile motion?
  c. What are the assumptions that we make to analyze our projectile motion model?
  d. Why are there no forces in the x direction?
  e. How do the motion equations change for 2-D motion?
  f. What does centripetal mean?
  g. Why is the centripetal acceleration proportional to v-squared?
  h. What is a radian?
  i. How is equation 3.16 derived?

Feb 16 - Chapter 4 - Forces

MC Questions: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16

Problems: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], [6, 7, 8, 10, 11], 20, 22, 25], [28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 41, 43, 44],
[47, 48, 54, 56, 57] (please understand that many of these problems are similar).

Chapter 3 Figures: 4, 5, 6, 12, 17, 19, 20, 24, 28

Physics Concepts

a. Types of Forces
b. Resultant of Forces. Can you add force vectors?
c. Newton's Three Laws
d. Mass and Weight
e. Freebody Diagrams. You should be able to draw any force diagram

Feb 1-7: Quiz 1 Study Guide linked below

No Office Hours on Friday.

I have 6 office hours available on four days. Please come and visit me. I love helping you all.

I will have to stop sending emails because some students are not receiving them.
Please visit here often for updates. Thanks, everyone.

Here are the problems that I did in class . . . Problems 38, 40, 53, 87

Remember: You need to be able to visualize the problem and be able to draw a good diagram. Drawing a complete, accurate and neat diagram will demonstrate your abilities to solve any problem you encounter. This class trains you to break any problem down into it's basic parts and piece together a workable solution. When solving problems at home you have time to be neat accurate and complete. There are no short cuts in life. Everything you will ever truly learn comes at great cost (sweat, tears, frustration and maybe, a little blood) and with a reward (challenging career, fame, glory and most importantly, money)! So practice, practice practice. . .

On the Quiz, I can't grade you on these attributes because I do not have the time or the help to do so. Your ability to draw quick and dirty diagrams will go along way into solving problems on the Quiz. For example; I will most likely require only one part of problem 53, or ask you to write out the final quadratic equation for problem 87 but not solve it. I know you ony have 50 minutes on the Quiz.

Jan 30: For Quiz 1 on Friday. You must attend. If you miss this quiz you will get a zero that will not be averaged
using my Progressive Grading method.

Chapter 1 - Measurements

MC Questions: 5, 6, 9, 12, 13.

Problems: 1, 4, 12, 14, 22, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 53, 55, 61, 62, 63.
(many of these problems are similar).

Physics Concepts
a. What is Physics?
b. What are Idealized Models?
c. What is a Scientific Theory?
d. What did Leon Lederman write in the God Particle?
e. What is Trigonometry?
f. What about the range and validity of Physical Theory?
g. What is the difference between Precision and accuracy?

Know: Powers of Ten, Sig Figs, Unit Conversions, Trigonometry, Vector Algebra.

Chapter 2 - Kinematics

Concept Questions: 14, 15, 16, 17

MC Questions: 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15
Problems: 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 36, 37, 38, 49, 52, 53, 56, 71, 74, 75, 87 (many of these problems are similar).

Physics Concepts
a. What is the difference between Kinematics and Dynamics?
b. What is the difference between Displacement and distance?
c. Understand Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 17, 28
d. How did Galileo argue that all objects fall with the same acceleration?
e. Understand the FreeFall Diagrams and Graphs on my website.
f. How do the Motion Graphs relate to one another. The Calculus. . .slopes. . . derivatives.
I will provide the 4 motion equations only this one time. FYI-If you do not know these equations you are
most likely not going to do well.
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Again, you need to stay ahead: Read the chapters, solve some of the problems and understand the
diagrams and physics concepts. Your Quizzes will be 50% concept and 50% calculation.
1. You must only use a simple calculator on all Quizzes-- NO programmable calculators, please. If you bring
a programmable calculator, I will have to tell you to put it away. Sorry, it is my experience that a few students
know how to program these calculators which is unfair and considered cheating.
2. Please, fill the front section seats first (fill every seat), I will hand out the Quiz as soon as I see the front
section seats completely filled.
3. Please, in the back section, leave a seat between each student.

Jan. 29: One more time, You are NOT to go to blackboard for this class. My syllabus is on my website with all the requirements.

Jan. 29: Hello everyone I will have office hours on Friday at 11 am

Jan. 27: I will hold a special session for anyone that wants more help on trigonometry and vector algebra in P146 on Thursday at 8:30 am. I will try to have another session on Wednesday or Friday.

Temporary Office Hours: W-F 10-11

Jan 27: Hello everyone

1. Getting on Mastering Physics requires that you click on my page. There is informationon my website that you will need once you begin to register on Mastering physics.
2. If you do not have an access code you will need to purchase one online.
3. Follow the directions once on Mastering Physics.

Jan. 26: Hello everyone. I want you to practice these problems and others if need be:

Chapter 1 - 1, 4, 12, 14, 22, 35, 37, 38, 39, 44, 45

Stay ahead of the game everyone.

Chapter 1 - Concepts

a. What is Physics?
b. What are Idealized Models?
c. What is a Scientific Theory?
d. What did Leon Lederman write in the God Particle?
e. What is Trigonometry?

Know your: Powers of Ten, Sig Figs Unit Conversions, Trigonometery, Vector Algebra.

I will go over 4 or 5 of the problems above on Wednesday. But, do them ahead of me. Practice these problems yourself.

Jan. 19: Hey everyone. I will be seeing you all on Friday at noon. Please take this opportunity and register on Mastering Physics. Please follow the directions and start looking at Chapter 1. Understanding this chapter is crucial to your success in this class.

1. Units and unit conversions
2. Basic Algebra
3. Basic Trigonometry and Vectors

I want you all to know that the math requirements in this class are very basic algebra, trigonometry and vector math. I finalized the Requirements for the class, today.

    Here is my website again
    http://sdsu-physics.org/physics180/aphysics180A.php

See you all soon, Tony

Jan. 15: Hello everyone.

The winter break is nearly over. The skis are put away. The Chargers are on vacation. And school is about to start.
I want to encourage all of you to get ahead start. It's crucial for your success that you get a running start on this Spring semester.

   Here is my website for class requirements, class notes, calss dates,
   http://sdsu-physics.org/physics180/aphysics180A.php

1. Get the textbook. Don't wait. It's still the same textbook. We didn't change it, yet. You can get the ebook, if you wish.
2. Get registered on MasteringPhysics soon. Please follow directions.

Mastering Physics Online HW http://www.masteringphysics.com/site
Your Course ID is: P180ASPRING2009
Crazy Important: If you submit information that is wrong your scores
will not count until you fix it. It will be your responsibility to get any
mistakes fixed with MasterPhysics customer service. So, do it correctly.
Important: Use your real name.
Important: For your MP student ID use your SDSU RedID number

3. Read the first chapter! Do the problems before the first day of class! Get serious, "Lost' has already started and American Idol is old news.

The first chapter is so darn crucial. You may have forgotten more math than you know. (Is that possible?) Chapter 1 is considered review for many students. After looking over Chapter 1, if you think it is not review than get on top of it. The topics that bogs down many students are; very Basic Algebra, Conversions, very basic Trigonometry and very basic Vector Analysis. And get this, all these topics are in Chapter 1. I will certainly discuss all of these topics, do many problems and then move on. Don't get left behind. Once we move on to Chapter 2 and 3 you will want to really have these concepts under control. Otherwise you will always be playing catch-up.

4. Now, plan where you are going to spend your Spring Break because I am! Remember Spring Break is the last week of March and ticket prices go up the more you delay. Gosh, I'd love to go to Italy. . .

5. The good news. The economy is tanking, the Chargers are 9-9. And, no one in America can sing, at least on FOX. But you are in luck, you don't need a job, you may like the Pittsburg Steelers and we have iTunes, thank goodness.

I am not planning on having any Tests this semester! Yep, no Tests. . .hmmm. What's the catch? We are having 6 happy quizzes. Happy my *#@. At least they are not Pop Quizzes. Anyway, I will be using my patented Progressive Points scheme. I will raise your previous Quiz score to the average of your next Quiz score. As long as you took the previous Quiz. I have been doing this for the past few years. P180A is a progressive class. I you do will on the fourth quiz, you know everyhthing before it! So you deserve the points.

6. ???? can't think of anything else.

Tony DiMauro