University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

Prof. Smith.

This School includes two departments—General Physics and Practical
Physics.

I. General Physics.

Junior Class.—The Junior Class meets three times in each week
throughout the session of nine months. The object of the course of lectures
to this class is to furnish the student with a comprehensive view of
Modern Physics, and to make him familiar 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 established 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 prevalent belief among scientists, that the
entire body of Physics is a coherent and harmonious system of mechanical
truth.

Text-Books.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Units and Physical Constants.

For Reference.—Treatises by Clerk Maxwell; Jamin; Daguin.

Senior Class.—This class meets thrice each week, and studies Mathematical
Physics and Astronomy. The parts of Physic studied in this
class are such as may, from lack of time, be crowded out of the Junior
course. They are usually Light and Sound one session, and Heat and
Electricity the next.

Text-Books.—Cummings' Electricity; Bartlett's Acoustics and Optics.
Norton's Astronomy, with Chauvenet's Astronomy for reference.

Candidates for graduation in the school of Natural Philosophy are required
to attend only the foregoing classes.

II. Practical Physics.

To meet the wants of students who may be preparing themselves to
become teachers of science, and of those who, for other reasons, desire to
push their studies in Physics beyond the limits of the lecture-room course

the Visitors have recently instituted a special department with the above
title, and have authorized a separate diploma of graduation to be given
to such as exhibit proficiency in its exercises. The course of instruction
in this class will be partly theoretical and partly experimental, embracing
the following topics:

A. Theoretical.—Reduction of observations. Graphical representations
of results. Interpolation. Method of Least Squares. Essays on
prescribed Physical topics.

B. Experimental.—In this, the main portion of the course, the student
will learn physical manipulation, and the use of instruments by actual
practice.

1. Lecture-room Apparatus and Lecture-room Experiments.

2. Physical measurements and "instruments of precision." Cathetometer.
Spherometer. Dividing Engine. Goniometer. Balance. Syren.
Monochord. Revolving Mirror. Photometer. Microscope. Spectroscope.
Polariscope. Electrometer. Galvanometer. Meteorological instruments,
with daily use of the same.

Text-Books.—Chauvenet, "Method of Least Squares." Kohlrausch, "Physical
Measurements."