Brown Supplement - Physics

What is an academic experience, project, class or book that has influenced or inspired you?

As light passes through a transparent material, it bends to a new orientation because of differing indices of refraction. This is only one of the many things I have learned in the most interesting class I have taken thus far - physics. Physics has opened my eyes to the world. In class, we do controlled experiments and work on problems with pen and paper, but once we step out of the classroom, we see what we have been learning firsthand.

Before I took physics, I would stand in awe of sunsets. The fusions of colors are beautiful, and I could not understand how it could be created naturally. Now, I know that it is a simple atmospheric refraction that separates the light into its majestic colors. One may say that because it is a simple process, some of the beauty is taken away. I believe it to be the opposite. Possessing knowledge is beautiful, so naturally understanding explanations are as well.

Such understanding is what I seek in high school, college and beyond, and taking physics has given me a little piece of that understanding.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can improve it? I need to expand it as well. Anything that you think needs elaboration or could be added?

Thanks

i think you respond to the first part of the question very well but you do not fully explain how it has influenced you or in what way has it inspired you. I am sure that will give your essay more substance or meat. Hoped i helped.

I think elaboration of WHY you want to pursue physics would be great.

Physics class has been the most influential as it solidified my interest in engineering as a college major. My teacher is the type of person that tries new things at any opportunity, and prides himself in giving his students the chance to come out of their comfort zones and experiment. One of the biggest projects is to build a musical instrument. My partner and I built a xylophone and had tremendous amounts of fun in the process. Both of us have similar scientific, engineering-based mindsets, but neither of us had ever come face to face with engineering challenges. Using our knowledge of the physics of musical instruments, our finished product was deemed a success.

I added this paragraph in between the others. What do you think?

As light passes through a transparent material, it bends to a new orientation because of differing indices of refraction. This is only one of the many things I have learned in the most interesting class I have taken thus far - physics. Physics has opened my eyes to the world. In class, we do controlled experiments and work on problems with pen and paper, but once we step out of the classroom, we see what we have been learning firsthand.

Physics class has been the most influential as it solidified my interest in engineering as a college major. My teacher is the type of person that tries new things at every opportunity and prides himself in giving his students the chance to come out of their comfort zones and experiment. One of the biggest projects is to build a musical instrument. My partner and I built a xylophone and had tremendous amounts of fun in the process. Both of us have similar scientific, engineering-based mindsets, but neither of us had ever come face to face with engineering challenges. Using our knowledge of the physics of musical instruments, our finished product was deemed a success.

Before I took physics, I would stand in awe of sunsets. The fusions of colors are beautiful, and I could not understand how it could be created naturally. Now, I know that it is a simple atmospheric refraction that separates the light into its majestic colors. One may say that because it is a simple process, some of the beauty is taken away. I believe it to be the opposite. Possessing knowledge is beautiful, so naturally understanding explanations are as well.

Such understanding is what I seek in high school, college and beyond, and taking physics has given me a little piece of that understanding.

Okay, I see how that paragraph fits in and helps to answer the prompt... I stared at it for a long time, and I think what it needs is a stronger opening sentence -- one that grabs the attention and introduces that particular experience that you describe. Introduce it as the answer to the essay question, as the subject of the essay, so that the three paragraphs will be united by the opening line or two.

:)