High school laboratory manual of physics - 1893 - PREFACE - IN making this Manual two main objects have been kept in view. First, the teaching of Yhysics by the Inductive Method, that is, the presenting of a logicailly arranged course of experimental work that shall cover the ground of Elementary Physics. Second, the providing of sufficient laboratory work to meet the entrance requirements of any college in the country. The authors are not so visionary as to suppose that boys and girls can, unaided, rediscove the laws of Physics, but we know that, if sufficiently careful directions are given to pupils in the performance of experiments, and definite instruction is given them as to the manner of studying resztlts obtained, they will learn from Nature first-hand many of her great laws. And these will be much more strongly ikpressed than when learned from a text-book or. from the teachers experiments. From the generalizations made by the pupils, deductions can be made and then tested for their validity, thus keeping he pupil on the borderland between inductions and deductions, a place where the greatest mental development is obtained. This plan is the underlying idea of science study, and the acquiring of this scientiufic method is of far more importance than the mere gleaning of facts. The facts may in time be forgotten, but the method of mind operation will remain as part of the character developed. Careful manipulation, accurate observation of phenomena, and logical deductions or generalizations should be the three steps kept in mind. The notes written by the pupils should be neat, terse, and in good English, and should be logically arranged as shown in the steps mentioned above. Insist on these three elements of written work. iii . In the attainment of our second object, the requirements of Harvard, as being higher and more definite than those of any other institution, have been our standard, and we acknowledge great obligations to the Harvard Pamphlet. Equivalents of nearly all their exercises will be found in this Manual. With regard to the method of laboratory work, that of having duplicate apparatus so that a whole class may be performing the same experiment is of course the best. BIuch of the value of ihe work is in the discussion bf the results in class-room. With this in view the apparatus selected is of the simplest possible kind that will secure good results, and most of it may be duplicated at small cost. In the arrangement of topics, Magnetism has been put first because the experiments are easy, instructive, and fascinating, thus giving a very desirable introduction to the laboratory work. It also gives the teacher time to prepare his laboratory. for the more difficult work which comes later. The other topics are arranged in about the usual order. It is of course to be borne in mind that this is in no sense a text-book, nor intended to supplant one. It is simply a laboratory manual and may be used with any text. LABORATORY MANUAL. The beginning work in the laboratory, covering the subject of Magnetism, can be performed by the - pupils working in unison under the oral directions of the instructor, who can emphasize his directions in such a way as to leave no doubt as to the way to proceed. The pupils can thus be given a start in an earnest manner, and if the instructor is full of life, his pupils will soon gain a mental momentum that will count. Enthusiastic work coupled with neatness and accuracy should be , the first aim. Unison worg calls for b t little apparatus here...