Transmitter

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/transmitter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific principle?Generates modulated radio frequency alternating current to radiate electromagnetic waves
2. What is the key historical milestones?Spark-gap transmitters, vacuum tube oscillators, transistorization, and software-defined radios
3. How does a transmitter send sound as radio waves?It first creates a high‑frequency carrier wave with an oscillator, then changes that wave’s amplitude, frequency, or phase to carry the sound, amplifies it, and finally sends it out through an antenna.
4. Why did transmitters become smaller over time?The invention of the transistor in the mid‑20th century made transmitters lighter, more efficient, and portable, so they could fit into everyday gadgets.

Carrier Wave: A high-frequency electromagnetic wave used to carry information signals.
Modulation: The process of altering a carrier wave's properties to embed information.
Software-Defined Radio (SDR): A radio communication system where components normally implemented in hardware are instead implemented using software on a personal computer or embedded system.