Presentation on how radio waves work and their uses.

1. Radio waves

2. Introduction
This presentation will cover some topics about radio waves:
 How they work
 Uses of radio waves in modern times (beyond broadcasting)
 Conclusion

3. How do radio waves work?
A radio wave, in simple terms is a carrier wave that carries
information from one point (the transmitter) to another (the
receiver). The wave however is not a vibration, as sounds waves
are, they are electro-magnetic waves self propagating electro-
magnetic effect which means it is a pulsing stream of energy,
this allows it to travel through mediums that other waves can not
such as a vacuum.
Each radio wave has a specific frequency or band of
frequencies which corresponds to the in. The receiver then
produces small electric currents as the radio wave flows past it.
These currents are not the information the radio wave is
transmitting (a song for example) but the digital representation of
it.

4. Uses of radio waves
Radio waves are used all the time in todays society, they are a very
important part of how our technology works and interacts with each
other. Radio waves are so versatile in their use they crop up
everywhere from saving lives in hospitals to saving space on your
computer desk with a wireless mouse.
Here are some common uses:
 WiFi
 Hospital equipment
 Mobile telephone communication
 Universal remote controls (RC cars)
 Television
And many, many others

5. Uses continued…
Mobile phone communication
Mobile phones could simply not work, or not work anywhere near as
well without radio waves. Cell phones emits small amounts of
electromagnetic waves (radio waves) to the radio tower. Containing
the radio equipment. These towers connect the calls to the other cell
phone you are trying to call, as the towers can only transmit a certain
distance (see image below) they have to transmit to each other
creating a link from the person calling and the person receiving the
call.

6. WiFi
Wireless networking is a vital part of our everyday lives now
and makes connecting to other devices and the internet very
easy. They are very easy to set up and have countless uses.
The devices has a wireless adapter that translates the data
from the device into a radio wave, it is then transmitted the
wireless router, which is the key component and HUB of the
network. The router then decodes the radio waves and sends
the signal to the internet, creating a wireless path from the
device to the internet. As WiFi hotspots are being set up all
around the country it is becoming increasingly easy to be
constantly online and connected with the rest of the world.

7. Radio controlled devices
Radio waves are also used in recreation and leisure activities as
well such as radio controlled vehicles. This works in the exact
same way, the controller the user holds is the transmitter,
transmitting the inputs the user is giving directly to the receiver
antenna circuit board fixed into the toy vehicle. This intern
control the many inner working of the toy, the motor, steering
and any other gadgets involved. However some of the lesser
quality RC cars have the same frequency or band of frequencies
and so you might find your car being controlled by someone else
due to interference.

8. Conclusion
Radio waves have become a big part of our society, they make
our lives easier and keep us connected with each other,
whether that be through the ever increasing connected world
wide web through social networking, or directly to each other
with a mobile phone call.
However as our technology progresses I feel radio waves will
be used less and less and eventually disappear as new, better,
higher quality techniques are developed of transmitting data.
There is no doubt that radio waves have improved our society
outside the obvious broadcasting potential they have brought
us.

9. Bibliography
Information:
http://www.clker.com/clipart-23862.html
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone1.htm
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-networking-pictures17.htm
Pictures (in order of appearance):
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061117085931AASFFd8
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone1.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/rc-toy.htm