University of Virginia Library

IV.—Natural Philosophy.

PROFESSOR SMITH.

There are three classes in this school: the Junior and Senior
Classes of Natural Philosophy, and the class of Mineralogy
and Geology.

Instruction is given in all the classes by lectures and the
study of the text-books, accompanied by daily examinations.

The Junior Class meets three times a week. The course
of lectures to this class commences with a view of the structure
and general properties of matter, as preliminary to an
exposition of the leading doctrines of equilibrium and motion.
In the latter is included the application of these doctrines
to a variety of subjects, embracing, among others, the
centre of gravity, simple and compound machinery, the
pendulum, projectiles, the figure of the earth and the laws
of gravitation. This is followed by a consideration of the
special structure and properties of fluids, together with the
laws of their pressure, motion and resistance. The theory
and construction of the principal Pneumatic and Hydraulic
machines are then presented. To this succeeds a more particular
investigation of molecular actions, as exhibited in
osmotic and capillary phenomena, and in wave motion. In
the latter half of the course, are considered in succession,
Acoustics; Optics, Geometrical and Physical; Electricity,
Mechanical and Voltaic; Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism,
&c., and Heat, including the Steam engine. The subjects
taught in this course are illustrated by numerous experiments,
and by the aid of a large collection of diagrams.

The Senior Class meets twice a week. In this class, certain
portions of the Junior course are more thoroughly discussed
by the aid of the lower mathematics. This course
embraces, in addition, the subject of Astronomy.

Text-Books.—For the Junior Class: Roger's Mechanical
Philosophy; Muller's Physics or Lardner's Hand-books.

For the Senior Class: Notes on Mechanics; Herschel's
Astronomy.

MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY.

These subjects form a separate department of the school
of Natural Philosophy. They are studied in the order
named. Mineralogy is taught with especial reference to its
bearings on Geology. Throughout the course, specimens
are exhibited of the minerals, rocks and fossils alluded to
or described in the lectures.

Text-Books.—Dana's Mineralogy; Lyell's Manual of Geology.