United States Coast Guard Academy - Tide Rips Yearbook (New London, CT)

Page 30 text:

.;Vi ' -«»»»!« 35¥ » i SwADs cntcrint; tlie first semester of their aca- demic struggles are wont to look upon the course in chemistry as their initiation to the elite of the scientific world. It is their first real clash with any technical subject. But rather than com- ing out of the course full fledged scientists, they are humbled to tlie realization of what they have yet to learn. Chemistry acquaints us with the building blocks of matter. We start with a very vague con- ception of the elusive atoms and molecules. But the instructor ' s long wooden pointer sweeping endlessly over the face of the periodic table of elements, gradually sketches some order into its crazy hieroglyphics. Skeleton models of molecu- lar structures impress a weird but useful interpre- tation of chemical substance m our minds. With that knowledge we can almost readily picture the hidden processes behind the quite obvious chemi- cal combinations and reactions. We have reached the practical stage. Lectures on corrosion, battery reactions, and boiler feed testing give us an idea of what we can do with a comand of the formulae and equations that be- devil our examination hours. Gone are the dreams of spectacular achievements with test tube and flame. But the nightmares remain — boiler feed water gone wrong and not an equation in sight. PROF. J. B. HOAG Head of Science Department 26

Page 29 text:

ruiWW n nn u u

Page 31 text:

n G n u n U L n As the basis of practically .ill engineering, jL Physics is heavily empiiasized. It paves the way tor our ct)urses in electrical and marine engi- neering, and for gunnery. The subject carries us through three half-year terms with Perkins Un- abridged as our guide. Successively we are initi- ated to mechanics, heat, sound, light, magne- tism, electricity, and electronics. Will wonders never cease! In the classroom we listen with amazemcnt- ve reason — we speculate. We see the whirling gyroscope, the prismatic spectrum, the magnetic flux as outlined with iron filings. Occasionally we join hands, form a circle, and experience with mixed reaction the ellects of voltage. Then there are the discussion groups at which we all in turn voice our opinions. Laboratory work substantiates the book knowledge. From a humble start wherein we learn the methods and accuracy of measurements we advance right up to a study of photoelectric cells and radioactive substance. There are occa- sional interruptions as Professor Hoag looks around for a microfarad, or a smoking voltmeter is hastily taken out of the line. Additional fea- tures of the lab course are useful demonstrations of more elaborate experiments which require the magic touch of a full fledged scientist for per- formance. But on the whole we learn by doing and the dividends are reaped from there on. 27