
LETTER 1ELECTRICITY AND MATTER
LETTER 2WHY A COPPER WIRE WILL CONDUCT ELECTRICITY
LETTER 3HOW A BATTERY WORKS
LETTER 4THE BATTERIES IN YOUR RADIO SET
LETTER 5GETTING ELECTRONS FROM A HEATED WIRE
LETTER 6THE AUDION
LETTER 7HOW TO MEASURE AN ELECTRON STREAM
LETTER 8ELECTRON-MOVING-FORCES
LETTER 9THE AUDION-CHARACTERISTIC
LETTER 10CONDENSERS AND COILS
In a warm, conversational tone a seasoned radio engineer writes to his curious son, laying out the basics of electricity and matter as the foundation for radio‑telephony. He explains electrons and protons with vivid analogies, demystifies atoms, and shows how copper wire, glass plates, and simple batteries become the heart of a working set. The letters are designed to be read, re‑read, and taken apart piece by piece, so even a complete beginner can follow the rapid advances of early twentieth‑century radio.
Beyond theory, the writer invites his son to experiment, offering step‑by‑step sketches for constructing a tiny receiver that can pick up real broadcasts. Those hands‑on projects capture the excitement of early hobbyists, letting listeners imagine the crackle of distant stations as they tune a coil of wire. The letters keep the technical detail clear yet lively, making the history of radio feel like a personal adventure for anyone eager to understand how invisible currents become sound.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (326K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Frank, Robert Cicconetti and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2009-12-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1880–1948
Best known for making early radio and modern science easier to understand, this American engineer wrote clear, conversational books for general readers. His work turned difficult ideas about electricity, atoms, and communication into something lively and approachable.
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