African VLBI Network Training Site

13 March 2017 14:00 - 16:00

Title: The Miraculous Bell at the Villa Griffone

Author: Mr Anthony (Tony) Voorveldt
              Chief Electronics Technician
              University of the Witwatersrand (retired)

Abstract:
This lecture demonstartion describes the discovery of electromagnetic waves by Heinrich Hertz. The discovery lead to the invention of radio (wireless) communication by Guglielmo Marconi in Italy 1895. 

Replicas of Marconi's apparatus will be demonstrated.

Additional demonstrations will be shown:

 1) How to build a simple Jupiter noise storm receiver and antennas.
 2) A VLF (very low frequency) solar flare receiver constructed by Domenic Toldo. 

More about the author:

I am a self taught scientific technician with interest in the fields of Astronomy, Electronics, Radio Communications (apprenticeship with Johannesburg Television and Radio) and Radar (active radio-ham ZS6CCD), a keen interest in the history of Science and Chemistry and an avid collector of antique scientific instruments. No interest in sports what-so-ever. Enjoy spreading the gospel according to Einstein, Newton Faraday, Marconi and Edison. Worked as chief electronics technician at the CSIR/NASA Hartebeesthoek Satellite Tracking Station and the Johannesburg Planetarium in the 1960's. Worked at the University of the Witwatersrand for 34 years, at the Central Electronic Services (Planetarium) for 7 years and in the School of Physics for 27 years. Retired from the University of the Witwatersrand, School of Physics in 2011. My wife Denise and I continue to present popular science and astronomy lectures to public organisations and schools on behalf of the School of Physics.