XL 



ON THE STUDY OF PHYSICS* 



I HOLD in my hand an uncorrected proof of the syl- 

 labus of this course of lectures, and the title of 

 the present lecture is there stated to be ' On the Im- 

 portance of the Study of Physics as a Means of Educa- 

 tion/ The corrected proof, however, contains the 

 title: ' On the Importance of the Study of Physics as 

 a Branch of Education.' Small as this editorial altera- 

 tion may seem, the two words suggest two radically dis- 

 tinct modes of viewing the subject before us. The term 

 Education is sometimes applied to a single faculty or 

 organ, and if we know wherein the education of a 

 single faculty consists, this will help us to clearer 

 notions regarding the education of the sum of all the 

 faculties, or of the mind. When, for example, we 

 speak of the education of the voice, what do we mean? 

 There are certain membranes at the top of the wind- 

 pipe which throw into vibration the air forced between 

 them from the lungs, thus producing musical sounds. 

 These membranes are, to some extent, under the con- 

 trol of the will, and it is found that they can be so 

 modified by exercise as to produce notes of a clearer 

 and more melodious character. This exercise we call 

 the education of the voice. We may choose for our 

 exercise songs new or old, festive or solemn; the edu- 

 cation of the voice being the object aimed at, the songs 



* From a lecture delivered in the Royal Institution of Great 

 Britain in the Spring of 1854. 



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