University of Virginia Library

V.—NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

PROFESSOR SMITH.

There are three classes in this school: the Junior and Senior
Classes of Natural Philosophy, and the class of Mineralogy and
Geology.

Instruction is given in all the classes by lectures and the study
of the text books, accompanied by daily examinations.

The Junior Class meets three times a week. The course of
lectures to this class commences with a view of the structure and
general properties of matter, as preliminary to an exposition of
the leading doctrines of equilibrium and motion. In the latter
is included the application of these doctrines to a variety of subjects,
embracing, among others, the centre of gravity, simple
and compound machinery, the pendulum, projectiles, the figure
of the earth and the laws of gravitation. This is followed by a
consideration of the special structure and properties of fluids,
together with the laws of their pressure, motion and resistance.
The theory and construction of the principal Pneumatic and
Hydraulic machines are then presented. To this succeeds a more
particular investigation of molecular actions, as exhibited in osmotic
and capillary phenomena, and in wave motion. In the
latter half of the course, are considered in succession, Acoustics;
Optics, Geometrical and Physical; Electricity, Mechanical and

Voltaic; Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, &c., and Heat, including
the Steam Engine. The subjects taught in this course are
illustrated by numerous experiments, and by the aid of a large
collection of diagrams.

The Senior Class meets twice a week. In this class, certain
portions of the Junior course are more thoroughly discussed by
the aid of the lower Mathematics. This course embraces, in addition,
the subject of Astronomy.

Text Books.—For the Junior Class: Rogers' Mechanical
Philosophy; Muller's Physics or Lardner's Hand-books.

For the Senior Class: Written Lectures on Mechanics; Norton's
Astronomy.

MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY.

These subjects form a separate department of the school of
Natural Philosophy. They are studied in the order named.
Mineralogy is taught with especial reference to its bearings on
Geology. Throughout the course, specimens are exhibited of the
minerals, rocks and fossils alluded to or described in the lectures.

Text Books.—Dana's Mineralogy; Lyell's Manual of Geology.