https://www.solarenergyworld.

com/2011/06/17/solar-history-alexandre-
edmond-becquerel/

http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-photoelectric-effect-definition-history-
application-equation.html

http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Photovoltaic_effect#cite_note-boyle-1

was instrumental in showing a strong relationship between light and electronic properties of
materials

http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/neveyaakov/el
ectro_science/smith.html&date=2009-10-26+20:59:44

https://www.famousscientists.org/heinrich-hertz/

https://www.famousscientists.org/j-j-thomson/

Producing and Detecting Radio Waves

In November 1886 Hertz constructed the apparatus shown below.

He applied high voltage a.c. electricity across the central spark-gap, creating sparks.

The sparks caused violent pulses of electric current within the copper wires. These pulses
reverberated within the wires, surging back and forth at a rate of roughly 100 million per
second.

As Maxwell had predicted, the oscillating electric charges produced electromagnetic waves
radio waves which spread out through the air around the wires. Some of the waves
reached a loop of copper wire 1.5 meters away, producing surges of electric current within it.
These surges caused sparks to jump across a spark-gap in the loop.

This was an experimental triumph. Hertz had produced and detected radio waves. He had
passed electrical energy through the air from one device to another one located over a meter
away. No connecting wires were needed.

Taking it Further
Over the next three years, in a series of brilliant experiments, Hertz fully verified Maxwells
theory. He proved beyond doubt that his apparatus was producing electromagnetic waves,
demonstrating that the energy radiating from his electrical oscillators could be reflected,
refracted, produce interference patterns, and produce standing waves just like light.

Hertzs experiments proved that radio waves and light waves were part of the same family,
which today we call the electromagnetic spectrum.