How does the internet work on your laptop, phone, and other wireless devices without any connecting cables? How does your television remote work? In this episode of Circuit Playground, Adabot learns about electromagnetic energy with Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894), the physicist who proved that electromagnetic waves existed. Hertz (Hz), a unit of measurement named in his honor, refers to cycles per second. Plus, a bit about WiFi from Reference.com:
A common misconception is that Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity but, in reality, it does not stand for anything. At the time Wi-Fi was invented, it operated under the standards of IEEE 802.11, which was not a catchy or succinct name. While high fidelity was a common sound system term at the time, and Wi-Fi does rhyme with Hi-Fi, there is no relationship between the two.
Read more about WiFi at Scientific American.
And though they probably won’t spot electromagnetic energy in real life, you can make your own costume NeoPixel goggles and glasses. Adafruit also has a Getting Started with Trinket Book + NeoPixel Goggles Pack.
Next: More Circuit Playground, How to Make LED Sneakers, and Mercury Hz: Sound waves passing around & through mercury.