What Are The Basic Physics Principal For GPS, TV and Radio?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the basic physics principles underlying GPS, television, and radio technologies. Participants explore various aspects of these technologies, including their operational mechanisms and the commonalities in their reliance on electromagnetic radiation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks help for a project on the physics principles of GPS, TV, and radio, indicating a need for detailed explanations.
  • Another participant questions whether the inquiry pertains to older cathode ray tube TVs or modern plasma and LCD technologies.
  • A participant suggests that the commonality among GPS, TV, and radio is their function of receiving and presenting information to users.
  • There is a discussion about the broad nature of the term "function," with suggestions to narrow down the specific aspects to explain.
  • A crude explanation of cathode ray tubes is provided, detailing the process of electron production, acceleration, and interaction with phosphor screens.
  • One participant emphasizes the shared principle of electromagnetic radiation across the three technologies, noting differences in frequency ranges and their effects on signal propagation.
  • Another participant highlights the importance of understanding how GPS satellites account for time dilation due to relativistic effects, given their speed and position in a weaker gravitational field.
  • A later reply praises the relevance of incorporating real-world physics concepts into the assignment, reinforcing the connection between theoretical knowledge and practical applications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the topic, with some agreeing on the significance of electromagnetic radiation as a common principle, while others focus on different aspects of the technologies. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific details to be included in the presentation.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for further research and specific questions to clarify understanding, indicating that there may be gaps in knowledge or assumptions that need to be addressed.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for high school students studying physics, educators looking for examples of real-world applications of physics concepts, and anyone interested in the technological principles behind GPS, TV, and radio.

imapeiceofwod
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I'm having to do a project and i got to do a detailed presentation describing and explaining the basic physics principals for gps's, tv's and radio. Each section has to be around 3-4 minutes of explanation.

Im hitting a big rut with trying to find research for it. Also I am in gr.12 physics btw.

Any help please.
 
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When you say TV's, do you mean the old fashion large bulky cathode ray tubes? or the new plasma sort? And you should be able to find plenty of relevant information on wiki
 
both tv's i guess, tubes,plasma,lcd,led,
 
GPS, TV, Radio.

The common thread is that they all receive and present information to a user.

What are you trying to "explain" exactly.
 
i just got to talk about the physics principals that each electronic relies on in order to function.
 
Function?

Thats a really broad word. It could mean anything from explaining how they receive a signal to explaining what they do with it.

Maybe you need to narrow down what you are trying to explain. There must be a reason you listed all three things. Either they all have something in common or they all have something unique that you are trying to "explain".
 
Ok, this is quite crude, but I am doing this quickly. Ill be back later to do some of the rest if no one else does first.

A cathode ray tube is effectively a wire that is heated to produce electrons, which are then accelerated the the positive anode (think that's the right one) which then get deflected by metal plates onto a screen made up of RBG phosphor. That being phosphor that glows Red Blue or Green when sufficiently high energy electrons excite the phosphor to give off photons. The entire wire to phosphor screen is contained within a vacuum.
 
imapeiceofwod said:
I'm having to do a project and i got to do a detailed presentation describing and explaining the basic physics principals for gps's, tv's and radio. Each section has to be around 3-4 minutes of explanation.

Im hitting a big rut with trying to find research for it. Also I am in gr.12 physics btw.

Any help please.

You should start by reading how each works at HowStuffWorks.com

After that, you will be able to ask specific questions about things that you are not understanding...
 
As I read your question, and think of the assignment, I'm looking at what's common. Meaning, they all deal with electromagnetic radiation. The differences are in the frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio, Tv, or GPS, they function and provide benefits to us based on carrying information carried on the waves.

Moving electrons in a medium creates an electromagnetic field. Varying that current will vary the field. Modulating and controlling the current in a meaningful way makes it information.

I would start with the basic principle that each share, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the harnessing of the energy.

Radio, Tv, and GPS function with different frequency ranges, each having a particular behavior. Certain frequencies travel through some mediums and are effected by it. Others not. AM and FM frequencies behave differently, while microwaves drill past barriers that stop radio and tv cold. Some frequencies stay local (get absorbed and dissipate into the medium) while others literally bounce like a ball and carry on by virtue of reflection. Others still just penetrate and blow on by.

If you think about listening to AM versus FM, how far those signals go, why, and why you might like to use a highly energetic signal to carry location data reliably in straight lines (think of your trig classes), I believe you already have enough information to begin a pretty informative and well though out presentation. Good Luck.
 
  • #10
And maybe talk about how the gps satellites have to take into account time dilation from relativity because they are in a weaker gravitational field and because they are going so fast .
 
  • #11
Wow! Cragar...most excellent point. In terms of this assignment, to bring that up, and it's relevance, truly makes the point that physics, the sciences, are not just book study classroom ideas.

This is real, and it's all around us right now. AND, it's the A-maker idea. Nice.
 

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