Radio Explorers: Radio Silence

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 11 - Adult
TOPIC: Engineering and Technology
Learners compare and contrast how a variety of materials can block radio waves.
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DESCRIPTION

In this activity, participants will investigate radio waves—one type of energy from the electromagnetic spectrum. While radio waves are invisible, we can interact with them through interference. Participants will experiment with both non-conductive and conductive materials to determine which is best at blocking radio waves, while discovering differences in the radio waves used by a range of devices including: portable radios, walkie-talkies, and/or Bluetooth speakers. Because different devices use different radio frequencies, some radio waves will travel better through certain materials.

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  • Two gallon-sized paint cans–one made out of clear plastic and the other metal– are side by side on a table. Behind them, two youths are seated at the table. Together they place a handheld, hand crank radio with a long antenna into the plastic paint can.
  • An adult and a child seated at a table both smile as the child wraps a radio device in a black bag called a Faraday bag. A walkie-talkie and a touch-screen mobile phone sit beside the bag.
  • An array of items are laid out across a table, including a touch-screen mobile phone, portable radio, metal paint can, and black bag called a Faraday bag. Behind the items, an adult and a child watch another child reach out to grab the handheld radio.
  • A child places a handheld radio into a metal paint can.
  • Making Waves Radio Silence activity at the Celebremos las ciencias! Let's Celebrate Science at the Museum of Life and Science Durham This event is part of the NC Science Festival credit Guillermo Delgado for NISE Network
  • A pair of hands wrap a radio device with copper wire mesh and aluminum foil.
  • Two gallon-sized paint cans–one made out of clear plastic and the other metal– are side by side on a table. Behind them, two youths are seated at the table. Together they place a handheld, hand crank radio with a long antenna into the plastic paint can.
  • An adult and a child seated at a table both smile as the child wraps a radio device in a black bag called a Faraday bag. A walkie-talkie and a touch-screen mobile phone sit beside the bag.
  • An array of items are laid out across a table, including a touch-screen mobile phone, portable radio, metal paint can, and black bag called a Faraday bag. Behind the items, an adult and a child watch another child reach out to grab the handheld radio.
  • A child places a handheld radio into a metal paint can.
  • Making Waves Radio Silence activity at the Celebremos las ciencias! Let's Celebrate Science at the Museum of Life and Science Durham This event is part of the NC Science Festival credit Guillermo Delgado for NISE Network
  • A pair of hands wrap a radio device with copper wire mesh and aluminum foil.

DESCRIPTION

In this activity, participants will investigate radio waves—one type of energy from the electromagnetic spectrum. While radio waves are invisible, we can interact with them through interference. Participants will experiment with both non-conductive and conductive materials to determine which is best at blocking radio waves, while discovering differences in the radio waves used by a range of devices including: portable radios, walkie-talkies, and/or Bluetooth speakers. Because different devices use different radio frequencies, some radio waves will travel better through certain materials.

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

LEARNING GOALS

  • Radio waves transfer energy that can be reflected or absorbed, or pass
    through materials.

  • Radio waves are invisible and all around us.
     

  • Different devices use different radio frequencies.

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TYPE:
Educational Resources
AUDIENCE:
Ages 11 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Engineering and Technology Engineering Technology Physical Sciences Energy
KIT: Making Waves with radio color logo JPG Browse kit
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2023
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

BSCS Science Learning

FUNDING

Developed with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2053160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.