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The Function of a Crystal Radio

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The Function of a Crystal Radio
The Function of a Crystal Radio What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about the function of the radio? Is the first thing that pops into your mind the word ‘magic’? Despite the fact that it seems like it is magical and comes out of the air, radio and the use of the radio is very scientific. When broken down and analyzed, the function of the radio is more scientific than magical. The miraculous way that you can send out invisible information through thin air and can listen to the information from a significant distance away is enough to overwhelm people. However, the operation of the radio is quite simple when you look at all the components of the transmission and demodulation of radio waves. Sound waves are the single most important aspect of everything that we hear. Sounds are made because of moving fluctuations in the air. When you are listening to your iPod, waves of different frequencies and different amplitudes are making the music that you hear. The sounds that come from waves are determined fro, the amplitude and frequency that the waves are transmitted from when they are modulated. The frequency of waves means the amount of waves transmitted in a second. The amplitude of a wave is the height of the wave. This can relate to the radio because radio is a series of electromagnetic waves that go through the air. These transmission signals have frequencies and amplitudes. The reason why you cannot see a sound wave is because the frequencies of the waves are much slower then light waves. Light waves can be seen because the waves are at such a high frequency, or are going so quickly, that you can actually see them. Sound waves on the other hand have a much lower frequency so they cannot be seen to the naked eye. The property of waves is the most important aspect of a radio. When the waves travel through the air, they transport the information through electromagnetic fields. The information in the waves is used to determine what


Bibliography: Judson, Ralph. "Wireless The Modern Magic Carpet; Chapter XI." 1928.http://earlywireless.com/pdf/mc138-144.pdf (accessed February 10th, 2011). "Crystal Sets; An Enduring Miracle." 2004.http://earlywireless.com/crystal_sets.htm (accessed February 10th, 2011). "Fox Hold and POW Built Radios; History and Construction." December 31st, 2008.http://bizarrelabs.com/foxhole.htm (accessed February 10th, 2011).

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