
Homemade Telegraph and Morse Code
Medium
You have probably heard of Morse code but never sent a message with it. A telegraph turns switch presses into electrical signals that travel through a wire.
You build two stations from cardboard and wire. Each station has a thumbtack switch and a buzzer or light. When you press the switch on one station, the light on the other station turns on. Release it and the light goes off.
Tap quickly for a dot. Hold longer for a dash. String the dots and dashes together to spell out full words one letter at a time.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that you can build a telegraph machine that will send messages using Morse code.
Method & Materials
You will need to gather materials, strip the insulation off of the wires, tape the battery and buzzer to the cardboard, and twist the wires together.
You will need two pieces of cardboard, three pieces of wire, a battery, four thumbtacks, two lights, wire strippers, pliers, and tape.
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After completing the project, you will be able to send messages to your friends using Morse code. You can also use the telegraph to send secret messages.
Why do this project?
This science project is unique because it allows you to build your own telegraph machine and send messages to your friends using Morse code.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include using different lengths of wire and using different types of lights.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related video
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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