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This album explores the science of waves. Five video tracks feature two pair trawling fishermen from the Cornish village of Looe. Their lives and livelihoods depend on gadgets like radio, GPS and radar. This album explores the physics behind this technology, gives a simple introduction to wavelengths and looks back to the discovery of electromagnetism and the invention of radio. To demonstrate just how vital waves are, the two captains turn off their modern communication tools and try traditional methods of keeping in touch. In addition, two bonus video tracks explore Newton's laws of motion and Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which give us our most basic insight into space and time. This material forms part of the course S207 The physical world.
Track 1: The physical world: waves and relativity
An introduction to this album.
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The physical world: waves and relativity | An introduction to this album. Play now The physical world: waves and relativity |
| 2 | Radar and radio waves | Introducing the modern communication technology fishermen use. Play now Radar and radio waves |
| 3 | The nature of sound waves | Find out what makes a wave, how sound travels and how fishermen stayed in touch at sea before the invention of radio. Play now The nature of sound waves |
| 4 | Electromagnetic waves | Radio waves are the basis for our communications industry. The discovery of a link between electricity and magnetism led to the very first radio transmissions. Play now Electromagnetic waves |
| 5 | Make your own radio | The skippers take a closer look at each of the radio components, and how they work. Play now Make your own radio |
| 6 | A guide to wavelengths | Sound, light, heat, radio, television and microwave. The universe contains more radiation than matter, in fact, we're surrounded by a sea of electromagnetic waves. Play now A guide to wavelengths |
| 7 | Einstein and special relativity | This famous theory connects time and motion. Presenter Robert Llewellyn and British athlete Kris Akabusi hit the track to show how speed actually slows down time. Play now Einstein and special relativity |
| 8 | Experimenting with Newton's laws | What happens when you fire a toy cannonball from a moving train set? This demonstration tests Newton's laws of motion, the starting point for Einstein's theory of relativity. Play now Experimenting with Newton's laws |
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