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Digital vs. Analog SignalsActivity for Kids

Radio Waves DIY

Duration: 5-10 min
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $0 - $5

Learn that cell phones send and receive wireless signals through radio waves!

Visit The Full Lesson Download Instructions as PDF

Material List

1Cell phone
1Piece of paper
1Piece of aluminum foil
1Friend to call your phone (or a second phone)

Instructions

1Wrap your phone in the piece of paper.
2Have your friend (or yourself) call your phone (make sure it’s not on silent). Observe.
3Then, wrap your paper-wrapped phone in the aluminum foil.
4Have your friend (or yourself) call your phone. Observe.

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How It Works

Our electronic devices send and receive information through pulses of radio waves. Radio waves can go through most things, even walls, but there are some things they can’t go through. Since you can hear your phone ring when it is wrapped in the piece of paper, that means that radio waves went through the piece of paper and reached your phone. You’ll notice that when your phone is wrapped in the aluminum foil, it’s not ringing when called. This is because the radio waves cannot get through the metal cage made by the aluminum foil, it reflects and absorbs the waves. This is also why people sometimes lose reception in a metal elevator.