SCHOOL OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
Prof. Smith.
This School includes two courses, as follows:
I. General Physics.
Junior Class.—The object of the course of lectures to this class is to
furnish the student with an introduction to Modern Physics, and to acquaint
him with its methods of investigation. With the design of laying a thoroughly
scientific basis for the course, a large space is given at the outset to
the discussion of the cardinal doctrines of motion, force, energy, and potential,
and to their simpler applications in the pressure and motion of visible
masses.
With this preparation the student proceeds to the subject of Molecular
Physics, embracing Sound, Light, Heat, and Electricity. Throughout the
course the laws of motion and force are kept steadily in view, and an attempt
is made to exhibit the evidence, daily becoming stronger and clearer, for the
belief prevalent among scientists that the entire body of Physics is a coherent
and harmonious system of mechanical truth.
Members of the Junior Class are admitted at suitable times to the Physical
Laboratory, where they repeat and extend the experiments of the lecture-room.
Such exercise is entirely optional. Experience shows that this
privilege is highly valued and extensively used.
Text-books.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Units and Physical Constants. For
reference: Anthony and Brackett's Text-book of Physics.
Senior Class.—This class studies selected portions of Mathematical
Physics. The members of the class are required to spend from one to two
months in the Physical Laboratory.
Text-books.—Cumming's Electricity; Everett's Wave Motion; Glazebrook's Physical Optics;
Glazebrook's Practical Physics; Notes and Problems given by the Professor.
Candidates for graduation in Natural Philosophy are required to attend
only the foregoing classes.
II. Practical Physics.
This course is for students preparing to become teachers of science, or
desiring to push their studies in Physics beyond the limits of the undergraduate
course. The instruction is partly theoretical and partly experimental,
embracing the following topics:
Theoretical.—Reduction of observations; Graphical representation of
results; Interpolation; Method of Least Squares; Essays on prescribed Physical
topics.
Experimental.—In this, the main portion of the course, the student
will learn physical manipulation, and the use of instruments by actual practice
in the Physical Laboratory. (See page 65.) (1.) Lecture-room Apparatus
and Lecture-room Experiments. (2.) Physical Measurements and
"Instruments of Precision."
Text-books.—Chauvenet's Method of Least Squares; Kohlrausch's Physical Measurements.
