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 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 and energy, 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. Treatise on Nat. Phil.: by Privat
Deschanel.

Senior Class.—This class meets twice each week, and studies
Mechanics and Astronomy.

Text-Books.—Parkinson's Mechanics, in conjunction with the Professor's Syllabus.
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.

2. 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 Representation
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,— Pickering, Physical Manipulation,—
Kohlrausch, Physical Measurements.

By order of the Board of Visitors, the Professor is not required to
form this class if less than six students enter it.