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 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.

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 authorised 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.

MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY.

These subjects are, for the present, annexed to this school, and are
assigned to a separate class, which the members of other classes in the
School may attend without payment of an additional fee. The lectures
embrace Physical Geography and Mineralogy, so far as they are indispensable
to the student of Geology. Special reference is made to the
Geological structure of Virginia and the neighboring States.

Text-Book.—Dana's Manual of Geology.