Snell’s Law: An Engineering Physics Senior Design Project

Snell’s Law: An Engineering Physics Senior Design Project

 

Professor Patrice Genevet has been mentoring two of our Engineering Physics seniors, Nate Wright and Jayden Johnson, through a very unique Engineering Physics Senior Design Project during the 2023-24 Academic Year.

Nate and Jayden developed a learning module that can be used to teach high school science students a simple, straightforward way they can derive an equation called Snell’s Law, an equation that describes how electromagnetic waves travel from one medium into another.

On the morning of Tuesday April 23, 2024, Patrice, Nate, and Jayden visited three physics classes at nearby Golden High School and presented their learning module to each class.  This provided Nate and Jayden experience communicating complex ideas to others in simple terms and supported our Physics Department’s efforts in science education outreach.

Mines Professor Patrice Genevet demonstrates Snell's Law to a group of physics students at Golden High School.
Mines Professor Patrice Genevet demonstrates Snell’s Law to a group of physics students at Golden High School.
Mines Engineering Physics senior, Jayden Johnson, instructing a group of Golden High School physics students.
Mines Engineering Physics senior, Jayden Johnson, instructing a group of Golden High School physics students.
Mines Engineering Physics senior, Nate Wright, stands by as Golden High School physics students ponder Snell's Law.
Mines Engineering Physics senior, Nate Wright, stands by as Golden High School physics students ponder Snell’s Law.
Mines Engineering Physics seniors, Nate Wright and Jayden Johnson, teaching and interacting with Golden High School physics students.
Mines Engineering Physics seniors, Nate Wright and Jayden Johnson, teaching and interacting with Golden High School physics students.