5. Theory
Wireless signals are a wave motion in, or disturbance of, the magnetic forces of the earth, and are propagated through this magnetic field, following the curvature of the earth, just as a tidal wave would follow the surface of the ocean. Practice indicates that the nodel points of the waves are at, or near, the earth’s surface.
As explained in Chapter I, ether waves do not traverse all substances with like velocities; this explains why wireless signals are propagated many times farther over water than over land, as the waves traverse air and water at practically the same velocities. In land the waves travel at a much slower rate.
Now to produce, electrically, the results described by the analogy of water, we must employ means for creating waves in the earth’s magnetic field, and use an electrical spring and weight, so to speak. The electrical spring effect is obtained by the electrical phenomena of capacity. Any surface of metal possesses capacity, which is the power to retain a charge of electricity. When this is disturbed it has the same elastic principle as the spring.
The inertia of the weight is represented, electrically, by the term inductance, which effect is produced when a constantly changing current is passed through a coil of wire. This causes the continually changing current to react upon itself, and, consequently, produces a retarding effect.
