Abilene High School - Orange and Brown Yearbook (Abilene, KS)

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PHYSICS LABORATORY How to find the density of steel spheres, llow pressure beneath the free surface Of a liquid varies with depth. Archimedes' principle and the density of a solid. Archimedes' principle and the density of a liquid. Density ol' El solid lighter than water. lSoyle's Law. Cooling by exaporation, Dew point. liesultant of two forces. The laws of the pendulum. llooke's Law. Charles' Law. Coefficient of expansion of brass. The principle of nionients. The inclined plane. The specific heat of a metal. The mechanical equivalent of heat. Cooling through change of state. The heat ol' fusion of ice. The heat of vaporization of water. The boiling point of alcohol. Effect of pressure on the boiling point. Laws of reflection from plane mirrors. Relation between intensity of light and distance. Magnifying power of a single convex lens. The focal length of a concave mirror. Laws of iniage formation in convex lenses. Prisms. Index of refraction. TWENTY-SEVEN

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Correlate facts, still the course supplies the student an abundance of useful infor- mation. The subject matter deals with the every day experiences of life, giving the How and Why of many natural phenomena without becoming technical. Material peculiarly suited to the minds of the beginners in High School is selected from the abundance of information to be obtained from the realms of Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, etc., and organized into a unified whole. In this course many of the wonders of the physical world surrounding the student, as Well as the scientific world of man's creation, are explained, many of the miracles and unexplained phenomena about him become intelligible and useful to him. PH YSIOGRAPHY Physiography deals in part with the relation of the earth to the sun, but more especially with its relation to man. A study of the solar system reveals the cause of seasonal changes, climatic zones, day and night, tides, and the phases of the moon. The three most general physiographic features of the earth are, the atmosphere, the ocean, and the solid crust. The atmosphere varies as to pressure, temperature and moisture content. The proper variation of these factors results in the produc- tion of winds, clouds, and precipitation in its various forms. The ocean is the Hhigh- way of the nationsf, Its waters are acted on by the wind to produce waves and ocean currents, by the sun and moon to produce tides. These movements of the water are responsible for the complete alteration of the outline of continents. The crust of the earth is not fixed, but is continually undergoing changes. Rocks are formed and later decomposed into soil. Mountains rise out of the ocean, exist fO1' a time, are worn down by the variors erosive and weathering agents until they are completely obliterated. River systems, lakes, volcanoes, and water falls develop and later cease to be. Even continents come and go. The physiographic features of the earth and the changes they undergo are respon- sible for the production and distribution of our present forms of animal and plant life. The plant life in turn is a vital factor in determining national development and prosperity. PHYSICS The year's course in Elementary Physics embraces a study of mechanics, heat, sound, light and electricity. The attempt is made to preserve the golden mean be- tween an empirical and a purely technical course. Frequent use is made of every day phenomena in illustrating the principles of Physics. A collateral laboratory course is given along with the text-book work, the aim being to dovetail the fund of information about things physical already possessed by the student with results obtained in the laboratory. A number of problems are introduced for the purpose of fixing in the student's mind the applications of general principles to a variety of specific cases. The subject is studied as far as possible from the local standpoint. In case a study is being made of hydrostatics and hydraulics, the local municipal water system becomes a topic for discussion. In case it be heat, the operation and points of su- periority of the heating systems of the school buildings and homes is made clear. Should the class be faniiliarizing themselves with the gas laws and their application in refrigeration, the local gas plant and the Belle Springs creamery are inspected. The subject of current electricity is illuminated by making a visit to the power plant Where the student has an opportunity of seeing how electrical energy is generated on a commercial scale. The Physics laboratory is fitted with water, gas, and the city current connec- tions. It contains a dark room in which experiments in light are performed and demonstrations made of various electrical discharges. The department possesses, in addition to the apparatus required for the performance of the regularly prescribed experiments, a number of pieces of apparatus which are invaluable for class demon- stration purposes. The experiments performed by the students during the past year are as follows: l. Determination of relation between diameter and circumference of sphere. 2. How to find the volume of a cylinder. TWENTY-SIX ll . 7 ,ml

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CHEMISTRY LABOR ATORY 31. Laws of vibrating strings. 32. Wave length of a note of a tuning fork. 33. Magnetic fields. 34. Molecular nature of magnetism. 35. The voltaic cell. 36. The magnetic effect of a current. 37. Properties and applications of the electromagnet. 38. Wheatst0ne's bridge. 39. Efficiency of carbon and tungsten lamps. 40. Boiling an egg by means of electricity. 41. Electrolysis and the storage battery. 42. Induced currents. 43. A study of a small motor and generator. UHEMISTRAY Chemistry is one of the great forces which is determining the civilization and development of mankind. The physician makes abundant use of it in combatting disease, the progressive manufacturer in improving processes and products of manu- facture, the sanitary chemist in the treatment of municipal water supply and sew- age, and the metallurgist in the extraction of metals from their ores. Progress in other sciences has been in a measure based on the discovery of the chemist. The scope of chemistry is so great that some knowledge of the subject is essential to those who wish to keep in touch with the progress of civilization. The course as offered gives as much attention as possible to the practical sides of the subject without neglecting the basis for its advanced pursuit. Some time is devoted to the consideration of the fundamental laws, theories, and principles of the subject. These must be understood for they serve as a foundation upon which the applications rest. Among the many phenomena of every day life which require some knowledge of chemistry for their proper interpretation may be mentioned, the decay of wood, rusting of iron and tarnishing of metals, combustion, bread-making, souring of milk, the conversion of cider into vinegar, the proper use of cleaning powders, and TWENTY-EIGHT