Designing replicas of Hertz's antennas using modern computer methods

The project outlined here is to design and construct a portable replica of the apparatus used by Heinrich Hertz in 1888 to demonstrate the existence of electromagnetic waves. The idea is to carry out the experiment using only the primitive tools available to Hertz at the time. He had a powerful induction coil to excite his “primary conductor,” and a micrometer-driven spark gap at the terminals of a loop, his “secondary circuit.” Hertz performed a multitude of experimental steps and kept detailed notes to enable him to build a receiving loop to be resonant at the same frequency as his transmitting dipole. Today we may use modern computer tools to design both dipole and loop. Hopefully, this will result in an agreeably portable set of equipment. This experiment may provide students and engineers with a new level of confidence in their fundamental knowledge of electricity.