BOARD #148: Exploring High-Energy Cosmic Particles: Integration into the Advanced Physics and Experiential Learning for Undergraduate Engineering Students using PASCO Apparatus and Software.

Pavel Navitski; Elena Gregg; Wesley David Klehm; Gabriel Pendell

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Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: Engineering Physics and Physics Division (EP2D) Poster Session
Tagged Division: Engineering Physics and Physics Division (EP2D)
Page Count: 12
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/55967
Download Count: 1

Paper Authors

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Pavel Navitski Oral Roberts University orcid.org/0000-0002-9752-9298

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Dr. Pavel Navitski is Associate Professor at Oral Roberts University from 01/2020 after a stint as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Oklahoma State University, where he was researching drift detecting using sensor systems for field spraying and guest lecturing. He is originally from Belarus, where he was the head of the department of agricultural machines at the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. The Belarusian State Agricultural Academy is where he earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Navitski’s professional interests are mostly in modern agricultural machinery: setting the main types of agricultural machines for quality work; device features of configuration of new agricultural machinery; perspective cropping systems; precision agriculture; modern machines for chemical plant protection; renewability and bio-energy. He represents Oral Roberts University at ASME and Tulsa Engineering foundation.

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Elena Gregg Dr Oral Roberts University

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Wesley David Klehm Oral Roberts University

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Wesley is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is 20 years old. Since he was a kid, he was always interested in how things worked and how they were made, with many disassembled toys to prove it. This curiosity inspired Wesley to pursue a degree in engineering to further satiate this desire. In 2021, Wesley Klehm and Jordan Swan founded Esque Box while students at Oral Roberts University to teach a new generation of kids what they wished they knew at the same age.

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Gabriel Pendell Oral Roberts University

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Gabriel Pendell is a senior studying mechanical engineering at Oral Roberts University and will graduate with a bachelors of science in engineering in May. Afterward, he will continue to graduate education at the University of Illinois. His research interests include manufacturing processes, thermal-fluid systems, and combustion.

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Abstract

In response to the challenges of the evolving global educational landscape, the School of Engineering at the University has strategically positioned its Advanced Physics course to equip students with essential skills and experiences for professional practice as Christian engineers or for advanced studies in engineering, with a strong emphasis on cultivating robust research capabilities. Our University is a private evangelical university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Advanced Physics Lab classes are designed to meet the dynamic needs of engineering education, incorporating flexible manuals tailored specifically for engineering disciplines. The curriculum emphasizes the practical application of physics and science to contribute to the betterment of the physical world, aligning with the University’s mission to promote the healing of the human condition. A key component of the Advanced Physics course involves experimental research using the Muon Observatory developed by PASCO. Muons—elementary particles similar to electrons but approximately 200 times more massive—are produced in the uppermost part of Earth's atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with atmospheric molecules. The Observatory enables students to detect cosmic rays and study their interactions, resulting in showers of secondary particles. Students engaged in research to determine the optimal thickness of steel plates for maximizing cascade detection and exploring the angular distribution of cosmic ray muons in two distinct modes: shower mode and telescope mode. The experimentation involved varying the thickness of steel plating above Geiger tubes to assess its impact on cosmic ray cascade detection. Through systematic investigation, students identified the optimal thickness that yielded the highest number of cascade detections. This experimentation provided insights into the behavior of relativistic electrons and photons as they penetrate matter, generating cascades of particles until the energy per particle became insufficient for pair production. The results not only enhance our understanding of particle interactions but also lay the groundwork for future research endeavors and the development of experimental procedures. By integrating practical, hands-on experiences into the Advanced Physics course, the University seeks to deepen students' comprehension of complex concepts while fostering a passion for scientific inquiry. The research outcomes also highlight the university's commitment to preparing students for real-world challenges and advancing scientific knowledge.

Citation
Format

Navitski, P., & Gregg, E., & Klehm, W. D., & Pendell, G. (2025, June), BOARD #148: Exploring High-Energy Cosmic Particles: Integration into the Advanced Physics and Experiential Learning for Undergraduate Engineering Students using PASCO Apparatus and Software. Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/55967

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - In response to the challenges of the evolving global educational landscape, the School of Engineering at the University has strategically positioned its Advanced Physics course to equip students with essential skills and experiences for professional practice as Christian engineers or for advanced studies in engineering, with a strong emphasis on cultivating robust research capabilities. Our University is a private evangelical university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Advanced Physics Lab classes are designed to meet the dynamic needs of engineering education, incorporating flexible manuals tailored specifically for engineering disciplines. The curriculum emphasizes the practical application of physics and science to contribute to the betterment of the physical world, aligning with the University’s mission to promote the healing of the human condition.
A key component of the Advanced Physics course involves experimental research using the Muon Observatory developed by PASCO. Muons—elementary particles similar to electrons but approximately 200 times more massive—are produced in the uppermost part of Earth&#39;s atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with atmospheric molecules. The Observatory enables students to detect cosmic rays and study their interactions, resulting in showers of secondary particles. Students engaged in research to determine the optimal thickness of steel plates for maximizing cascade detection and exploring the angular distribution of cosmic ray muons in two distinct modes: shower mode and telescope mode.
The experimentation involved varying the thickness of steel plating above Geiger tubes to assess its impact on cosmic ray cascade detection. Through systematic investigation, students identified the optimal thickness that yielded the highest number of cascade detections. This experimentation provided insights into the behavior of relativistic electrons and photons as they penetrate matter, generating cascades of particles until the energy per particle became insufficient for pair production. The results not only enhance our understanding of particle interactions but also lay the groundwork for future research endeavors and the development of experimental procedures.
By integrating practical, hands-on experiences into the Advanced Physics course, the University seeks to deepen students&#39; comprehension of complex concepts while fostering a passion for scientific inquiry. The research outcomes also highlight the university&#39;s commitment to preparing students for real-world challenges and advancing scientific knowledge.

AU  - Pavel Navitski
AU  - Elena Gregg Dr
AU  - Wesley David Klehm
AU  - Gabriel Pendell
CY  - Montreal, Quebec, Canada 
DA  - 2025/06/22
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - BOARD #148: Exploring High-Energy Cosmic Particles: Integration into the Advanced Physics and Experiential Learning for Undergraduate Engineering Students using PASCO Apparatus and Software.
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/55967
ER  -