SHS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Quarter 2 – Week 5
Module 5B: How Hertz Produced
Radio Pulses
Physical Science
Grade 11/12 Quarter 2 - Module 5B: How Hertz Produced Radio Pulses
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Francisco M. Viluan Jr.

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

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Schools Division Superintendent

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Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

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Science Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

Physical Science
Quarter 2 – Week 5
Module 5B: How Hertz
Produced Radio Pulses
 Target

The lasting importance of Hertz's discovery cannot be

overstated. Consider the use to which radio and other electromagnetic waves are put
today: radio, television, radar, food preparation, welding, heat sealing, magnetic
resonance imaging, radio astronomy, and navigation are only a few of the
applications. Radio waves are generated by inducing electromagnetic oscillations in
an antenna that are then broadcast to distant receiving stations.

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.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. describe how Herts produced radio pulses (S11/12PS-Ivh-68)

4
Pretest

Directions. Read each item carefully. Use separate sheet for your answers. Write
only the letter for your answer.

1. EM waves travel at the speed of .

A. sound
B. energy
C. light
D. wind

2. According to Maxwell’s theory, EM waves will be produced when there is a .

A. changing magnetic field
B. constant electric field
C. changing electric field
D. constant magnetic field

3. Hertz is a unit given to the number of cycles created or completed in a unit of

time known as .
A. speed
B. amplitute
C. wavelength
D. frequency

4. Which of the following sentences are true about Maxwell’s theory?

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.

A. I and II B. II and III C. II, III and IV D. I and IV

5. How did Hertz calculate the wavelength and frequency of EM waves in his
experiment?

I. measured the distance between nodes which served as wavelength of EM waves

II. calculated the frequency of the oscillator to get the frequency of EM waves
III. calculated the frequency of the nodes to get the frequency of EM waves
IV. measured the distance between oscillators which served as wavelength of EM
waves

A. I and II B. II and III C. III and IV D. I and IV

6. What event in Hertz’ experiment made him think that EM waves are
being transmitted?
A. production of spark
B. production of light
C. production of sound
D. production of wave

5
7. What quantities were needed to solve for the speed of the wave?
A. wavelength and frequency
B. amplitude and wavelength
C. frequency and period
D. speed and wavelength

8. Which of the following statements are true about how Hertz calculated the
speed of the EM waves?

I. He was able to create a standing wave from which he measured

the wavelength
I. of the wave.
perpendicular
II. He was able toII.provide evidence
at the right anglethat light cannot be absorbed.
III. Hertzmade theIII.radiation hit a broad metal sheet.
at any angle
IV. He was able to IV.
create a standing wav e from which he measured
parallel
the frequency of the wave.
A. I and II B. II and IV C. III and IV D. I and IV

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.

10. In order for EM waves to be generated, how should changing electric

and magnetic fields be oriented to each other?

A. I and II B. II and IV C. III and IV D. I and IV

11. Francis Radio Station broadcasts at a frequency of 102.1MHz. what is the

length of the radio wave in terms of meter?
A. 0.0029 m B. 29.83 m C. 298.3 m D. 2,983 m

12. An FM station broadcasts at a frequency of 107.9 MHz. what is the wavelength

of the radio signal?
A. 2.8 m B. 280 m C. 2,800 m D. 28,000 m

13. Violet has a wavelength of 4.10 x 10-12 m. what is the frequency?

A. 7.3 x 1019 Hz
B. 7.3 x 1017 Hz
C. 7.3 x 10-19 Hz
D. 7.3 x 10-17 Hz

14. A helium laser emits light with a wavelength of of 633 nm. What is the
frequency of the light emitted by the laser?
A. 4.7 x 1015 Hz
B. 4.7 x 1016 Hz
C. 4.7 x 1017 Hz
D. 4.7 x 1018 Hz

6
15. If the limits of the human hearing asre 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, what are the sound
wavelengths that are associated with bot of these two extremes, assuming the
speed of light is 345 m/s?
A. 1.7 m to 17 m
B. 1.7 to 170 m
C. 0.017 m to 1.7 m
D. 0.017 m to 17 m

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 Jumpstart

Direction. Find the term in the puzzle that fits each clue given below. Then write
the term on the line next to the clue. The terms read across, down and diagonally.

EM SPRECTRUM WORD SEARCH

M K I O V I S I B L E U
I F R E Q U E N C Y R L
C H S M A S S L E S S T
R G Y S Q U F S D T N R
O R A P H N S Y E A O A
W A R E L N E A R R I V
A D X C O Y C R A S T I
V I S T A Q O A R E A O
E O O R V N N M F L I L
S H X U T C D M N P D E
P J E M R S P A I R A T
W A V E L E N G T H R E

1. Energy emitted into the air and received by your stereo.

2. Energy from this type of wave will cook popcorn.
3. Large balls of gas that create and emit their own radiation.
4. The amount of matter in an object.
5. This type of radiation is normally felt as heat.
6. The part of the spectrum that our eye can see.
7. A source of ultraviolet radiation for Earth.
8. The distance between adjacent peaks in a series of
periodic waves.
9. This type of radiation is abbreviated as UVand causes a
sunburn.
10. A unit of time.Not a minute.
11. A doctor uses this type of wave to look at your bones.
12. Energy radiated in the form of waves.
13. A name scientists give to the full range of types of radiation
14. Radioactive materials emit these and they have the shortest
wavelengthin the spectrum.
15. Measured in cycles per second. (Hertz or Hz)

Radio Mass Sun Gamma rays Spectrum

Frequency Visible Wavelength Radiation Ultraviolet
Second Infrared Xray Microwave Stars

8
 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.

Hertz had been demonstrating a piece of electrical apparatus called Riess

spirals to students. The spirals produced electric sparks by a process called
magnetic induction. The sparks flew between spark-gaps-small gaps in circuits.
Hertz became fascinated by sparks.

He started generating them using a piece of electrical equipment called an

induction coil. (A car’s spark plugs are powered by an induction coil. The induction
coil transforms low voltage dc electricity coming from a car’s battery into high voltage
ac electricity. This electricity crosses a small air gap at regular intervals as a spark –
i.e. you have a spark plug.)

9
 You can see a diagram of an induction coil connected to a spark-gap below.

Hertz spark testing circuit.

Playing around a little with this apparatus, Hertz connected a secondary

spark-gap to the existing spark-gap, as shown. He used the induction coil to
generate high voltage ac electricity, producing a series of sparks at regular intervals
at the main spark-gap. Hertz found that when sparks flew across the main gap,
sparks also usually flew across the secondary gap – that is between points A and B
in the image; Hertz called these side-sparks. He found the behavior of the side-
sparks highly thought-provoking.

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 equal. Voltage waves reach the spark-gap in

phase with one-another. There is no voltage difference between A and B, so no sparks
jump over the gap.

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.
10
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.

The importance of resonance is that if a receiver has the same resonant

frequency as a transmitter, the incoming electromagnetic waves have a much
stronger effect on it. This is similar to the situation in which an opera singer shatters
a champagne glass because its resonant frequency is the same as the note she sings.

Aware that the frequency of electrical vibrations and hence resonance is

determined by electrical properties called inductance and capacitance, Hertz looked
more closely at these factors in the circuit.

Breaking Away

He identified that a phenomenon called self-induction was taking place in the

wires. This allowed him to deduce that the electric vibrations had an extraordinarily
high frequency. Hertz decided to break the hard-wired connection between the main
spark circuit and the side-spark circuit, as shown in the image (above). He also
arranged the capacitance and inductance of the main circuit so its resonant
frequency was 100 million times a second. Today we would write this vibration
frequency as 100 MHz. (The unit of frequency is, of course, the hertz (Hz), named in
Heinrich Hertz’s honor.)

According to Maxwell’s theory, the main circuit would then radiate

electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of about a meter. The actual apparatus is
shown below.

Producing and Detecting Radio Waves

In November 1886 Hertz put together his spark-gap transmitter, which he
hoped would transmit electromagnetic waves.

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

11
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.

As Maxwell had predicted, the oscillating electric charges produced

electromagnetic waves – radio waves – which spread out at the speed of light through
the air around the wire. Hertz detected the waves with his copper wire receiver –
sparks jumped across its spark gap, even though it was as far as 1.5 meters away
from the transmitter. These sparks were caused by the arrival of electromagnetic
waves from the transmitter generating violent electrical vibrations in the receiver.

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.

Photo taken at https://www.famousscientists.org/how-hertz-discovered-radio-waves/

“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.

A ‘Build at Home’ Spark-Gap Transmitter

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Spark-gap_transmitter

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 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.

The impact of Hertz's discovery is easily recognized in the following categories

of use: communications, science, industry, and military.

The most obvious impact of generating and receiving radio waves is in

communications. Although not originally envisioned by Hertz, it took only six years
for Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) to construct a simple device
that used radio waves to ring a bell. In 1901 Marconi successfully received a radio
transmission sent from England in Newfoundland. Transmission of voices and
music by AM radio followed in 1906, less than 20 years after Hertz's initial success.
Other inventions followed, including television, communications satellites, and so
forth, each simplifying a formerly difficult task—staying in touch over long
distances. Prior to radio, communication beyond one's town was difficult and, for
most people, rare. Hertz, while not directly involved in changing this, certainly took
the first steps by showing it was possible to generate and receive waves that could
travel so far so quickly.

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.

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 Explore

Enrichment Activity 1. How Radio Waves Woks?

Direction. Use the words below to complete the following sentences:

https://www.forestville.com/cms/lib/NY19000591/Centricity/Domain/38/Fun_intro_to_EM
S_worksheet.pdf

Use the words below to complete the following sentences:

A. Radio waves are produced through aerial in the form of
, which travel through the atmospere. Another is used as
(usually a radio or a television) . the receiving aerial pick ups
the waves and converts them into an alternating current with the same
as the radio waves.

Alternating currents, aerial, receiver, transmitting, frequency

B. Radio waves can experience caused by such as

mountains. Otherbroadcasts, tuned to a similar can also interfere.
Interference, frequency, obstruction

C. Radio waves cannot be or but when they reach a ,

they are converted into or .

Receiver, heard, sound, pictures, seen

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

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 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.

Enrichment Activity 1. Wavelength of a Radio Station.

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!
λ=v = 300,000.0 km/s = 300,000.0 km •1/s
Hz = 1 cycle per
f 94,900,000 Hz 94,900,000 • 1/s
second or 1/s
λ = 0.00316 km

 Convert this to m? why? Unit of measurement for wavelengthis m

Answer: λ = 0.00316 km x 1,000 m = 3.16 m
1 km

It’s Your Turn!

Try to answer what is being asked. In as separate sheet of paper, solve the
following. Show your complete solution.

1. Your friend is listening to an AM station with a frequency of 1,520 kHz. What is

the wavelength of these radio waves?
2. What is the frequency of the radio waves broadcast by an AM station if the wave
length of the radio waves is 500.0 m?

15
 Gauge

Directions. Read each item carefully. Use separate sheet for your answers. Write
only the letter for your answer.

1. EM waves travel at the speed of .

A. sound
B. energy
C. light
D. wind

2. According to Maxwell’s theory, EM waves will be produced when there is a _ .

A. changing magnetic field
B. constant electric field
C. changing electric field
D. constant magnetic field

3. Hertz is a unit given to the number of cycles created or completed in a unit of

time known as .
A. speed
B. amplitute
C. wavelength
D. frequency

4. Which of the following sentences are true about Maxwell’s theory?

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.

A. I and II B. II and III C. II, III and IV D. I and IV

5. How did Hertz calculate the wavelength and frequency of EM waves in his
experiment?

I. measured the distance between nodes which served as wavelength of EM waves

II. calculated the frequency of the oscillator to get the frequency of EM waves
III. calculated the frequency of the nodes to get the frequency of EM waves
IV. measured the distance between oscillators which served as wavelength of EM
waves

A. I and II B. II and III C. III and IV D. I and IV

16
6. What event in Hertz’ experiment made him think that EM waves are being
transmitted?
A. production of spark
B. production of light
C. production of sound
D. production of wave

7. What quantities were needed to solve for the speed of the wave?
A. wavelength and frequency
B. amplitude and wavelength
C. frequency and period
D. speed and wavelength

8. Which of the following statements are true about how Hertz calculated the
speed of the EM waves?

I. He was able to create a standing wave from which he measured the

wavelength of the wave.
II. He was able to provide evidence that light cannot be absorbed.
III. Hertz made the radiation hit a broad metal sheet.
IV. He was able to create a standing wave from which he measured the
frequency of the wave.

A. I and II B. II and IV C. III and IV D. I and IV

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.

10. In order for EM waves to be generated, how should changing electric

and magnetic fields be oriented to each other?

I. perpendicular
II. at the right angle
III. at any angle
IV. parallel

A. I and II B. II and IV C. III and IV D. I and IV

11. Francis Radio Station broadcasts at a frequency of 102.1MHz. what is the

length of the radio wave in terms of meter?
A. 0.0029 m C. 298.3 m
B. 29.83 m D. 2,983 m

17
12. An FM station broadcasts at a frequency of 107.9 MHz. what is the wavelength
of the radio signal?
A. 2.8 m C. 2,800 m
B. 280 m D. 28,000 m

13. Violet has a wavelength of 4.10 x 10-12 m. what is the frequency?

A. 7.3 x 1019 Hz
B. 7.3 x 1017 Hz
C. 7.3 x 10-19 Hz
D. 7.3 x 10-17 Hz

14. A helium laser emits light with a wavelength of of 633 nm. What is the
frequency of the light emitted by the laser?
A. 4.7 x 1015 Hz
B. 4.7 x 1016 Hz
C. 4.7 x 1017 Hz
D. 4.7 x 1018 Hz

15. If the limits of the human hearing are 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, what are the sound
wavelengths that are associated with both two extremes, assuming the
speed of light is 345 m/s?
A. 1.7 m to 17 m
B. 1.7 to 170 m
C. 0.017 m to 1.7 m
D. 0.017 m to 17 m

Great job! You are done with your lesson in describing how Hetz produced radio pulses or waves

18
19
References

Printed Materials
Physics: Exploring Life Through Science by Silverio and Bernas, Phoenix Publishing
2013

Science in Todays World: Physical Science Learning Guide; Sibs Publishing 2016

Science in Todays World for Senior High School : Physical Science Learning Guide;
Sibs Publishing 2016

Web Sites

https://cpb-us-
e1.wpmucdn.com/cobblearning.net/dist/3/1229/files/2015/03/Wave-
Speed-Equation-Practice-WS-HS-ANSWERS-1276fvp.pdf

https://studylib.net/doc/10799190/em-spectrum-word-search

https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/heinrich-hertz-produces-and-detects-radio-waves-1888

https://www.famousscientists.org/how-hertz-discovered-radio- waves/#:~:text=The
%20wire%20had%20its%20own,out%20to%20the%20zinc
%20spheres.&text=Hertz%20had%20produced%20and%20detected%20radio
%20waves.

https://www.forestville.com/cms/lib/NY19000591/Centricity/Domain/38/Fun_in
tro_to_EMS_worksheet.pdf

https://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/hertzexperiment.html

https://www.mathsisfun.com/physics/waves-radio-microwave.html

https://www.peoriapublicschools.org/cms/lib/IL01001530/Centricity/Domain/29
96/ChemE%20-%20frequency%20wavelength%20worksheets%20answers.pdf

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