What is radio

Radio has been one of the most important inventions that continues to aide civilization to this day. In scientific terms, radio is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic waves push into space going the speed of light, which is 300,000 kilometers per second. When equipment is attached to an antenna, the energy becomes radio waves. Some of the energy can be received by another antenna, and using a radio receiver, the energy connects the transmitter and receiver. Information that is added to the radio waves can be sent as messages known as television programs, walkie talkies, and other sources. Radio wave travel can vary with frequency and wavelength of the signal. The lower the frequency of the wave, the farther the wave will travel. When frequency builds, the wave may become blocked or bounced off mountains and buildings. At very large frequencies, weather conditions can limit the range of communication. Due to these anomalies, different frequencies can be a better fit for certain types of radio (Griffin, 2000).
Short-band frequency ranges from 3 to 30 megahertz, which is a measure of hertz equaling a million. Medium-wave frequency ranges from 535 to 1,705 kilohertz and is used in A.M broadcast. Long-wave frequency ranges from 148 to 283.5 kilohertz which is a measure of hertz equaling 1,000 hertz. Hertz is a unit used to measure frequency. One hertz equals one vibration per second. A.M. stands for amplitude modulation, a method which strength of the carrier waves that vary to match changes in audio frequency waves. F.M. stands for frequency modulation a method in which frequency of carrier waves is matched to changes in audio frequency waves. (Griffin, 2000) (National Radio Astronomy Observatory, ND) The term radio was first shortened from radioconductor by the French physicist Edouard Branly in 1897. The word radio comes from the verb to radiate in latin; radius means beam of light. In 1891 Nicola Tesla invented the Tesla coil (which is still