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SCHOOL OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
Professor 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 sensible
masses.
more thorough mathematical treatment of the same topics and to be a
helpful introduction to it.
With this preparation the student proceeds to the subject of Molecular
Physics, embracing Sound, Light, Heat, and Electricity. Throughout the
course the laws of energy 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 required of candidates for the B. A. degree, but
is optional with others. Experience shows that this privilege is highly valued
and extensively used.
Text-books for '90-'91.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Units and Physical Constants.
For reference: Anthony and Brackett's Text-book of Physics; Glazebrook's Practical
Physics.
Senior Class.—This class studies selected portions of Elementary Mathematical
Physics. The members of the class are required to spend about two
months in the Physical Laboratory.
Text-books for '90-'91.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Wave Motion; Anthony and Brackett's Text-book of Physics; Glazebrook's Practical Physics.
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; Method of Least Squares;
Graphical representation of results; Interpolation; 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. (1.) Lecture-room Apparatus and Lecture-room
Experiments. (2) Physical Measurements and "Instruments of Precision."
Text-books.—Merriman's Method of Least Squares; Kohlrausch's Physical Measurements.
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