Physical Science: Quarter 2 - Week 5
Physical Science: Quarter 2 - Week 5
Physical Science: Quarter 2 - Week 5
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Quarter 2 – Week 5
Module 5B: How Hertz Produced
Radio Pulses
Target
In your previous lesson, you have learned about various light phenomena,
scientifically known as Optical phenomena that are any observable events that
result from the interaction of light and matter. Common light phenomena are often
due to the interaction of light from the sun or moon with the atmosphere, clouds,
water, dust, and other particulates and the interaction of charged particles from the
sun (the solar wind) with certain atmospheric gases. Some examples of light
phenomena includes rainbows, halos, sundogs, mirages and the blue sky.
This module will provide you with information and activities that will help you
in explaining various light phenomena.
4
Discover
https://www.famousscientists.org/how-hertz-discovered-radio-waves
Recall that visible light is only one of the seven electromagnetic (EM) waves.
Another type of EM wave is the radio wave which is widely used for communication
and transmission of information regardless the distance of the sender and receiver.
Radio waves are naturally created by astronomical bodies or lightning but can also
be created artificially to serve its purpose.
In November 1886 Heinrich Hertz became the first person to transmit and
receive controlled radio waves. Considering how indispensable his wireless
transmissions quickly became, it seems a little odd looking back that he had no
practical purpose in mind for the radio or Hertzian waves he discovered.
His research was focused solely on discovering if James Clerk Maxwell’s 1864
theory of electromagnetism was correct. According to Maxwell’s theory, EM waves
move at the speed of light, c = 3 x 108 m/s, and is created by oscillating electric and
magnetic fields moving perpendicular to each other, in which a changing electric field
yields changing magnetic field and vice versa.
He varied the position of connection point C on the side-circuit. The only way
he could stop side-sparks being produced was to arrange the apparatus so the
length of wire CA was the same as CB. Given that the electricity was ac, this
suggested to Hertz that voltage waves were separately racing through the wire
along paths CA and CB.
If the distances CA and CB were the same, then the same voltage must reach
points A and B at the same time. The electrical waves in CA and CB were said to be
in phase with one another, so sparks could not be generated. Sparks could only be
generated if there was a large voltage difference between points A and B.
Distances CA and CB are not equal. Voltage waves reach the spark-gap out of
phase with one-another. There is a voltage difference between A and B, so sparks
jump over the gap.
Hertz did more experiments which revealed that the sparking at the main
gap was producing beautifully regular electrical waves, whose behavior was
predictable.
He pictured waves of electric charge moving back and forth, creating a standing wave
within the wire. In other words, he believed the circuit was vibrating like a tuning
fork at its natural, resonant frequency. He thought he now had a circuit in resonance.
Of course, in Hertz’s circuit the vibrations were not of sound, they were vibrations of
electric charge. It’s worth bearing in mind that resonance is not actually needed for
electromagnetic waves to be produced – they’re produced whenever electric charges
are accelerated.
Breaking Away
https://www.famousscientists.org/how-hertz-discovered-radio-waves
Hertz’s spark-gap transmitter. At the ends are two hollow zinc spheres of
diameter 30 cm which are 3 m apart. These act as capacitors. 2 mm thick copper
wire is run from the spheres into the middle, where there is a spark-gap. Today we
would describe this oscillator as a half-wave dipole antenna.
For his receiver he used a length of copper wire in the shape of a rectangle whose
dimensions were 120 cm by 80 cm. The wire had its own spark-gap.
Hertz applied high voltage a.c. electricity across the central spark-gap of the
transmitter, creating sparks. The sparks caused violent pulses of electric current
within the copper wires leading out to the zinc spheres.
This was an experimental triumph. Hertz had produced and detected radio
waves. Strangely, though, he did not appreciate the monumental practical
importance of his discovery. Summing up Hertz's importance: his experiments would
soon trigger the invention of the wireless telegraph and radio by Marconi and others
and TV.
In recognition of his work, the unit of frequency - one cycle per second - is
named the “hertz”, in honor of Heinrich Hertz.
“I do not think that the wireless waves I have discovered will have any practical
application.”
In fact Hertz’s waves would soon change the world. By 1896 Guglielmo
Marconi had been granted a patent for wireless communications. By 1901 he had
made a wireless transmission across the Atlantic Ocean from Britain to Canada.
By the early 1900s technically minded people were building their own spark
transmitters at home. Even children got in on the act, with instructions to build a
transmitter appearing in a craft book for boys in 1917.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Spark-gap_transmitter
By the late 1920s most radio transmitters were using vacuum tubes rather
than sparks to generate radio waves. And then the vacuum tubes were abandoned
in favor of transistors. Scientists and engineers have continued to innovate quickly
in the field of radio technology. Radio, television, satellite communications, mobile
phones, radar, and many other inventions and gadgets have made Hertz’s discovery
an indispensable part of modern life.
Radio astronomy, which has taught us much about the nature of the
universe, is entirely dependent on receiving and interpreting radio waves from
outer space. Our current theory of the formation of the universe, the Big Bang
theory, was strengthened immeasurably by the discovery of the cosmic microwave
background radiation field, discovered as a result of investigations into improving
radio communications. Much medical research and treatment utilizes magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) that uses radio waves as part of the imaging process.
Radar waves, a form of radio frequency radiation, have been bounced off the moon,
Venus, Mercury, and a number of asteroids to learn their distances and to map their
surfaces. Radar is also used extensively in weather research, helping to predict and
analyze incipient storms. And, of course, deep-space probes convey their
information and receive instructions via radio signals.
In industry, radio and other electromagnetic waves are used frequently, too.
Microwave ovens use radio-frequency radiation to cook food, while other microwave
devices are used to weld plastics, and seal bags. The use of radar for air traffic is well
known, of course, as is its use for police speed traps. Radio frequency radiation is
also used for joining metals in some industries.
Explore
https://www.forestville.com/cms/lib/NY19000591/Centricity/Domain/38/Fun_intro_to_EM
S_worksheet.pdf
D. Radio waves are good at (sending out to lots of receivers) and that
is how we get to listen to radio and TV broadcasts. TVs and radios can
broadcast signals using antennas.
broadcasting, receive
Deepen
At this point, you are task to apply what you have learned in real life
application of how hertz produced radio pulses or radio waves. Read each
application and answer what is being asked.
You are listening to an FM radio station with a frequency of 94.9 Hz, which
equals 94,900,000 Hz. What is the wavelength of these radio waves. Use the
wave speed equation v = λf, and assume the waves travel at the speed of light,
300,000.0 km/s. (3x 108 m/s is the speed of light).
Solution
Given : frequency: f = 94,900,000 Hz
wave speed: v = 300,000.0 km/s
wavelength: λ?
Solve for λ
v = λf v = λf v = λ or λ = v
f f f f f f
Substitute the given to the wavelength formula: Rememeber! Hz = 1 cycle per second or 1/s
λ=v = 300,000.0 km/s = 300,000.0 km •1/s
f 94,900,000 Hz 94,900,000 • 1/s
λ = 0.00316 km
Directions. Read each item carefully. Use separate sheet for your answers. Write
only the letter for your answer.
I. The electromagnetic waves propagate at a speed greater than the speed of light.
II. A changing magnetic field induces changing electric field.
III. A changing electric field induces changing magnetic field.
IV. The electromagnetic waves propagate at a speed equal to the speed of light.
5. How did Hertz calculate the wavelength and frequency of EM waves in his
experiment?
7. What quantities were needed to solve for the speed of the wave?
A. wavelength and frequency C. frequency and period
B. amplitude and wavelength D. speed and wavelength
8. Which of the following statements are true about how Hertz calculated the
speed of the EM waves?
9. Which of the following statements is true about the idea proven by Hertz’
experiments with regards to the speed of EM waves?
A. The speed of EM waves is equal to the speed of light.
B. The speed of EM waves is more than that of the speed of light.
C. The speed of EM waves is less than that of the speed of light.
D. The speed of EM waves is immeasurable.
I. perpendicular
II. at the right angle
III. at any angle
IV. parallel
Great job! You are done with your lesson in describing how Hetz produced radio pulses or waves