Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Radio Receiver Materials 
Name: Patrick
Status: Student
Age: 11
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I am building a radio receiver for a science fair project. I am unsure if I have all of the necessary items to build my receiver. I am following an experiment from a worldbook encyclopedia. The supply list does not indicate the type of diode needed and someone told me that I needed a crystal (the book does not mention a crystal.

Help if you can. list - balsa wood, cardboard tube, bare cooper wire, diode, nuts, bolts and washers, single-strand electrical wire, steel sire, paper clip, earphones. I really would like this experiment to work. If you have any information on building a radio receiver for my grade level please send. thank you


Replies:
Don't worry about the "crystal." That's just the diode. If you've got a diode, you're fine. I made a little crystal radio from a kit when I was younger, and it worked pretty well. As for what diode to get, the folks at your local Radio Shack or electronics supply house should be able to help you.

Richard Barrans Jr., Ph.D.


Click here to return to the Engineering Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory