University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

Prof. Smith.

This school includes two courses, as follows:

I. General Physics.

Junior Class.—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, energy, and potential, 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 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 belief prevalent among scientists, that the entire
body of Physics is a coherent and harmonious system of mechanical
truth.

Members of the Junior Class are admitted at convenient times to the
Physical Laboratory, where they may repeat and extend the experiments
of the lecture-room. Such exercise is entirely optional. Experience
shows that this privilege is highly valued and extensively used.

Text-books.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Units and Physical Constants; Daniell's
Physics.

Senior Class.—This class studies selected portions of Mathematical
Physics, and Spherical Astronomy. The members of the class are
required to spend from one to two months in the Physical Laboratory.

Text-books.—Cummings' Electricity; Everett's Wave Motion; Glazebrook's Physical Optics;
Glazebrook's Practical Physics; Norton's Astronomy; Notes and Problems given by the
Professor.

Candidates for graduation in Natural Philosophy are required to attend
only the foregoing classes.

II. Practical Physics.

This course is for students preparing to become teachers of science,
and for those who, for other reasons, desire to push their studies in
Physics beyond the limits of the under-graduate course. The instruction

is partly theoretical and partly experimental, embracing the following
topics:

Theoretical.—Reduction of observations; Graphical representation
of results; Interpolation; Method of Least Squares; Essays on prescribed
Physical topics.

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
Diffraction-bench; Polariscope; Electrometer; Galvanometer;
Magnetometer; Meteorological instruments, with daily use of the same.

Text-books.—Chauvenet's Method of Least Squares; Kohlrausch's Physical Measurements.