Radio Explorers: Messages from Space

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 11 - Adult
TOPIC: Engineering and Technology
Learners investigate the differences between sound and radio waves in a partial vacuum.
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DESCRIPTION

In this activity, learners will experiment with a remote key finder in a partial vacuum. A remote key finder uses radio waves to transmit a signal to the receiver, and sound waves to make a loud beep. After removing the air from a hand-pump vacuum chamber, participants will explore what happens to the waves with less air around the remote key finder receiver in the chamber. An optional extension to this activity includes instructions for participants to make-and-take their own sound detectors from cups, plastic wrap, a rubber band, and a pinch of sand.

Please note: Try installing the Sound Detector app on an Android device to provide more precise observations. Link to the Google Play store provided below.

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  • While sitting at a table, one child points a small transmitter at a vacuum-seal container that has a key finder inside, and another child holds a smartphone up to the other side of the container.
  • A child places a small, inflated balloon into a plastic vacuum-seal container.
  • A child uses a hand pump to remove air from a vacuum-seal container that has an inflated balloon inside.
  • A smiling child holds a smartphone up to a talking child’s mouth.
  • While sitting at a table, one child points a small transmitter at a vacuum-seal container that has a key finder inside, and another child holds a smartphone up to the other side of the container.
  • A child places a small, inflated balloon into a plastic vacuum-seal container.
  • A child uses a hand pump to remove air from a vacuum-seal container that has an inflated balloon inside.
  • A smiling child holds a smartphone up to a talking child’s mouth.

DESCRIPTION

In this activity, learners will experiment with a remote key finder in a partial vacuum. A remote key finder uses radio waves to transmit a signal to the receiver, and sound waves to make a loud beep. After removing the air from a hand-pump vacuum chamber, participants will explore what happens to the waves with less air around the remote key finder receiver in the chamber. An optional extension to this activity includes instructions for participants to make-and-take their own sound detectors from cups, plastic wrap, a rubber band, and a pinch of sand.

Please note: Try installing the Sound Detector app on an Android device to provide more precise observations. Link to the Google Play store provided below.

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

LEARNING GOALS

  • Radio waves are different from sound waves—they do not require air, water, or another medium to travel.

  • We take advantage of the properties of radio waves to communicate over vast distances, even through space.

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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.