University of Virginia Library

V.—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: Rogers' Mechanical Philosophy;
Muller's Physics or Lardner's Hand-books.

For the Senior Class: Written Lectures on Mechanics; Norton'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.