Heinrich Hertz Produces and Detects Radio Waves in 1888
Overview
In 1888 German physicist Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) produced and detected electromagnetic waves in his laboratory. His goal was to verify some of the predictions about these waves that had been made by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879). Of course, simply producing electromagnetic waves was not sufficientunless they could be detected, too. What Hertz did not realize at the time is that his discovery not only verified and validated Maxwell's work, but it also made possible the later invention of radio, television, radar, and other devices that depend on the production and detection of electromagnetic radiation.
Background
Early theories in physics assumed that all actions required some sort of direct contact or influence to make things happen. A hand pushing a ball or a wall stopping a ball are examples of this. However, gravity and magnetism seemed to violate this concept by seemingly allowing action at a distance without direct physical contact between objects. This led to speculation that various "ethers" existed that filled space so that, for example, magnetic forces would act on the ether that would, in turn, act on a piece of iron to pull it towards the magnet.
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