University of Virginia Library

IV.—NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM B. ROGERS.

There are three classes in this school: the Junior and Senior
classes of Natural Philosophy, and the class of Geology and Mineralogy.
The following is the plan of the course:

JUNIOR CLASS.

1. General or Rational Mechanics,—including Statics and Dynamics,
or the doctrines of Equilibrium and Motion.

2. Mechanics of Solids.—Molecular Structure, Elements of
Machinery, Friction, Strength of Materials, Roofs, Bridges, &c.

3. Mechanics of Liquids.—Structure, Laws of Equilibrium
and Pressure, Flotation, Specific Gravity, Motion in Pipes, Canals
and Rivers, Resistance, Model of Ship, &c.

4. Mechanics of Airs.—Structure, Elasticity, &c. , the Barometer
Pump, &c. , Resistance of Air, Endosmose and Capillarity.

5. Acoustics.—Mechanism of Waves, Sound-waves, Propagation
and Reflection, Musical Sounds, Scales, Speech and Hearing.

6. Thermotics.—Temperature, Expansion, Latent and Specific
Heat, Motion of Heat, Melloni's Laws, Vapours, &c.

7. Electricity, Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, &c. —Electrotype,
Telegraph, &c.

8. Optics.—Propagation, Reflection, Refraction of Light; Chromatics,
Polarization; Theories, Instruments, the Eye.

9. Meteorology.—The Winds, Revolving Storms, Rain, Dew,
&c. ; Laws of Climate, Outline of Physical Geography.

SENIOR CLASS.

1. General Mechanics, Mech. of Solids, of Liquids, Airs, &c. ,
and Optics, with the construction of Optical Instruments, are here
treated of more thoroughly than in the Junior Class, in a series of
Geometrical and Algebraic Theorems.

2. Practical Statics, including the principles of the Arch, Roofs,
Bridges, &c. , with an Outline of Architecture.

3. Practical Dynamics, Machinery and Motion Powers, Theory
and Construction of the Steam Engine, &c. , Mills, Turbones.

4. Astronomy.

CLASS OF GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.

In this class, besides the leading features of general Geology,
especial attention is given to the structure and mineral products of

our own country. The great mineral zones are described by reference
to maps and sections, the order of stratification pointed out,
the nature of the materials shown by specimens, and the relations
of all these features to the agriculture and other resources of the
country particularly dwelt upon. In this connection the formation
of soils is discussed, and their analysis, together with that of ores,
limestones, marls, &c. , particularly taught. The course includes
so much of general Natural History as is necessary to a knowledge
of the leading fossils.

Text-Books.—Reference is made to Müler's Physics, Bird's
Natural Philosophy, Peschel's Elements of Physics, Herschell's
Outlines of Astronomy, Jackson's Optics, Potter's Mechanics,
Lyell's, Ansted's, or Trimmer's Geology, Agassiz' and Gould's
Zoology.