DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 75 



RErORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FHYSICS AND ELECTRICAL 



ENGINEERING. 



PiTsidcnt J. L. Snyder: 



Dear Sir — Diiriii,i>- tlio year 1012-13, eijjhty-eiirht soj)liomore pnsjineers 

 took a year's work in ])liysics. In the fall term, one linndrefl twenty- 

 five F;o])1u!more ajiricnllnral students finished their second term's work 

 in ])liysi(s and in the sprinj; of 1913. one hundred fourteen freshman 

 agricultural studenis took their first term's work in physics. Durinjc^ 

 the fall term fifty-six women comrtleted their work in physics, and eighty- 

 five freshman their first term this spring'. 



During this year the usual courses in physics, as above outlined have 

 been maintained and in addition the second year short course men were 

 given some "practical physics." The amount of work given to the 

 agricultural students is too brief; although it is argued that the agricul- 

 tural course is planned for those who go into practical agriculture, 

 still the fact remains that quite a large per cent of the graduates take 

 up teaching mainly to teach agriculture but it is necessary for them 

 to teach other subjects as well, the result being that we have a good 

 many agTicultural graduates teaching physics in the high schools of the 

 state who are not sufficientl.y trained to make good teachers of this 

 subject. 



If those Avho are to teach physics could elect one of the elective courses 

 in physics it would help out very materially. This spring thirteen boys 

 who had iiad our reaular agricultural course in rihysics took an elective 

 term and have profited ronsiderably thereby. We offer a term's work 

 in the fall on electrical subjects and also one in the spring on the use 

 of power on the farm. 



It is very convenient that the work in electricity and in physics 

 are given by the same department as not only the students but many 

 of the farmers are very anxious to get an acquaintance with electrical 

 matters sufficient to enable them to use electricity intelligently on the 

 farm. It is also increasingly important that the girls should have a 

 practical knowledge of the anplication of the principles of plivsics to 

 things with which they come in contact and to that end this fall we ex- 

 pect to put in the laboratory some of the more common appliances used 

 in the home in order that these young ladies may become acquainted Avith 

 their operation and maintenance. I think it would be desirable for the 

 girls to put together and take apart a small pump which is commonly 

 used about the house, vacuum cleaners and electric appliances generally; 

 to be able to repair the wiring for flat-irons and electric heaters used 

 about the house and to be able to renew fuses. 



In the department of electrical engineering we have planned to sepa- 

 rate the seniors in electrical and mechanical engineering in the fall 

 terai's work, giving the work to them in separate classes adapted to 

 their needs. 



I wish to acknowledge the hearty co-operation of the various mem- 

 bers of the department during this last year. Mr. George Klotz, who 



