In 1883 Hertz became a lecturer in theoretical physics at the University of Kiel and two years later he was appointed professor of physics at Karlsruhe Polytechnic. In 1887 Hertz designed a brilliant set of experiments tested Maxwell's hypothesis. He used an oscillator made of polished brass knobs, each connected to an induction coil and separated by a tiny gap over which sparks could leap. Hertz reasoned that, if Maxwell's predictions were correct, electromagnetic waves would be transmitted during each series of sparks. To confirm this, Hertz made a simple receiver of looped wire. At the ends of the loop were small knobs separated by a tiny gap. The receiver was placed several yards from the oscillator.
According to theory, if electromagnetic
waves
were spreading from the oscillator sparks, they would induce a current
in the loop that would send sparks across the gap. This occurred when
Hertz
turned on the oscillator, producing the first transmission and
reception
of electromagnetic waves. Hertz also noted that electrical conductors
reflect
the waves and that they can be focused by concave reflectors. He found
that nonconductors allow most of the waves to pass through. Another of
his discoveries was the photoelectric effect.
 Conceptual Schematic of Hertz's Experiment |
 More Detailed Schematic of
Hertz's
Experiment
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(source)
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| Hertz's Parabolic Transmitting and Receiving Structures (Antennas) | ||
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 (source)
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| Details of Hertz's
Transmitter and Receiver Structures |
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 Hertz's
Test Equipment - viz., mirror
and prism
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