University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

Professor Smith.

This School includes four courses, each extending through the session of
nine months, and including lectures, text-book study, and laboratory work, as
follows:

General Physics.—The object of this course of lectures (which embraces
the work for the B. A. degree) is to furnish the student with an introduction
to Modern Physics. With the design of laying a 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.

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With this preparation, the student proceeds to the subject of Molecular
Physics, prominence being given to those divisions, like Heat and Electricity,
in which the transformations of Energy are most easily followed and measured.
Indeed, 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. This course includes
a series of exercises in the Physical Laboratory, selected with the view of training
the student in the measurement of phenomena.

Text-Books.—The Professor's Syllabus; Everett's Units and Physical Constants.

Sound and Light.—This course (which embraces the work for the M. A.
degree) treats of the theory of undulation and the transfer of Energy by waves.
It includes careful work in the Physical Laboratory.

Text-Books.—Preston's Theory of Light; Everett's Vibratory Motion and Sound;
Glazebrook's Practical Physics.

Electricity and Magnetism.—This class studies Electricity and Magnetism,
with special reference to Electrical Engineering, to which the course is
designed to be an introduction. Besides the mathematical theory, it embraces
Laboratory practice in electrical and magnetic measurements. To enter this
class, the student should be familiar with the elementary facts of the science,
and also with the simpler processes of differentiation and integration.

Advanced Physics.—This course includes the study of original memoirs
in special departments of Physics, and of the history of Experimental Science,
together with laboratory work showing independent research. The report of
this work may be the thesis offered for the attainment of the Ph. D. degree.

The Physical Laboratory has at its disposal five connected apartments,
all on the same floor. One of these is also used as a lecture-room; another
one is permanently darkened, and in two others the light may be excluded at
pleasure. A fourth room is so supported on massive piers as to be practically
free from sensible tremors. The needful appliances, in the way of fixtures and
apparatus, have been so far supplied as to furnish a sufficient range of practice
for undergraduates, and some facilities for the advanced student in Practical
Physics.