University of Virginia Library

VIII.—NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

PROFESSOR SMITH.

There are three classes in this school.

1. The Junior or General Class, which 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 and force. These doctrines are established,
and their leading consequences are traced, without the
use of mathematical symbols. Guided by these truths, the
teacher discusses, in the light of experiment, the structure of
matter according to the received atomic hypotheses, and the
equilibrium and motion of solids and fluids. These topics,
with various applications, occupy the first half of the course
of lectures.

The remainder of the course is devoted to Molecular Physics,
and treats of Capillarity, Osmose, Wave Motion, Sound,
Light, Heat and Electricity. In this as in the previous portion
of the lectures, the established laws of motion and force
are kept steadily in view, and an attempt is made so to present
and discuss the phenomena as to convince the student
that the entire body of Physics is a coherent and harmonious
system of mechanical truth. Throughout the session constant
reference is had to the wants of students in the several departments
of Applied Science.

Text Book.—Silliman's Physics.

2. The Senior Class.—This class meets twice a week, and
studies Mechanics and Astronomy.

Text Books.—Jackson's or Smith's Mechanics, Norton's Astronomy.

MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY.

3. These subjects are assigned to a separate class, which the
members of the other classes in the school may attend without
payment of an additional fee. In this class the lectures
commence with general Mineralogy, which is treated with especial
reference to Geology, to which it is designed to be an
introduction. In the lectures on Geology, the specific identity
of ancient and modern Geological causes is pointed out; the
present action of these causes, whether atmospheric, aqueous
or igneous, is considered, and their effects in the past history
of our planet are examined. The illustrations are drawn, as
far as practicable, from the Geological structure of Virginia.

The students have an opportunity of familiarizing themselves
with the minerals, rocks and fossils exhibited in the lectures.

Text-Books.—Dana's Manuals of Mineralogy and Geology.