Radio waves
The radio waves discovered by Hertz in the late 1880s proved to be a remarkable discovery, but what are the properties of radio waves?
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves. They are created when a current travels through an antenna creating an electrical current. Electromagnetic waves travel from one antenna to another, creating an induced current in the second antenna. The induced current is then transformed into the music we hear through the radio. Since radio waves are electromagnetic waves, they have the same properties. Radio waves are able to be spread out and travel in all directions from their source with a velocity of 3x108 m/s.
Radio waves have their own wavelength and frequency. The electromagnetic spectrum puts radio waves at an extreme end, showing it has a large wavelength and short frequency.
Frequency can be defined as the number of cycles traveled per unit time. Radio waves have a short frequency, which creates a long wave and gives it the ability to travel long distances.
It is thanks to Hertz that we are now able to send out signals to all parts of the Earth. It is because of the discovery of radio waves that man today has been able to further his/her knowledge of electromagnetism and create the technology we use today.
