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SCHOOL OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
Professor 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 an introduction to Modern Physics, and to
acquaint him 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 sensible masses. This discussion, while
it is elementary, is designed to be in harmony with the more thorough
mathematical treatment of the same topics and to be a helpful introduction
to it.
With this preparation the student proceeds to the subject of Molecular
Physics, embracing Sound, Light, Heat, and Electricity.
Throughout the course the laws of energy 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 suitable times to the
Physical Laboratory, where they repeat and extend the experiments of
the lecture-room. Such exercise is required of candidates for the
shows that this privilege is highly valued and extensively used.
Text-books for '91-'92.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Units and Physical
Constants. For Reference.—Anthony and Brackett's Text-book of Physics; Glazebrook's
Practical Physics; Atkinson's Ganot's Physics.
Senior Class.—This class studies selected portions of Elementary
Mathematical Physics. The members of the class are required to
spend about two months in the Physical Laboratory.
Text-books for '91-'92.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Wave Motion;
Preston's Theory of Light; Glazebrook's Practical Physics.
Candidates for graduation in Natural Philosophy are required to
attend only the foregoing classes.
Class in Electricity and Magnetism.—As a part of the studies of
the third year in Mechanical Engineering, the Professor of Natural
Philosophy conducts a class in the theory of Electricity and Magnetism,
with especial reference to the measurements required in Electrical
Engineering and to the applications of the theory to Dynamo-Electric
Machines, Electric Lighting, and Electrical Transmission of power.
The instruction is by lecture with associated laboratory exercises.
Text-books for 1891-'92.—Peirce's Potential Function; Mascart and Joubert's
Electricity and Magnetism.
II. Practical Physics.
This Graduate Course is for students preparing to become teachers
of science, or desiring to push their studies in Physics beyond the
limits of the under-graduate work. The instruction is partly theoretical
and partly experimental, embracing the following topics:
Theoretical.—Reduction of observations; Method of Least Squares;
Graphical representation of results; Interpolation; 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 in the Physical Laboratory. (1.) Lecture-room Apparatus
and Lecture-room Experiments. (2.) Physical Measurements and Instruments
of Precision.
Text-books.—Merriman's Method of Least Squares; Kohlrausch's Physical
Measurements.
The Physical Laboratory consists of four connected rooms, one of
which is also used as a lecture-room. One of them is permanently
fourth apartment is so supported on massive piers as to be practically
insulated as regards sensible tremors. The needful appliances, in the
way of fixtures and apparatus for physical experiment and research,
have been so far supplied as to furnish ample opportunities in laboratory
work for undergraduates, and valuable facilities for the advanced
student in Practical Physics.
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