Kennelly–Heaviside layer facts for kids

The Kennelly-Heaviside layer, also known as the E region, is a special part of Earth's atmosphere. It's found high above us, about 90 to 150 kilometers (56 to 93 miles) from the ground. This layer is full of gases that have become ionized, meaning their atoms have gained or lost electrons.

This amazing layer was named after two scientists, Arthur Edwin Kennelly and Oliver Heaviside. Its existence was proven in 1924 by Edward V. Appleton, an English physicist. Appleton later won the Nobel Prize in 1947 for his work on the ionosphere.

What is the E Region?

The E region is a key part of the Ionosphere, which is the upper part of Earth's atmosphere. It gets its ionized gases from sunlight, especially ultraviolet light. This light hits the gas atoms and knocks electrons free, creating a mix of charged particles.

How it Helps Communication

The Kennelly-Heaviside layer is very important because it can reflect certain types of radio waves. These are called electromagnetic radiations (or EM waves). The layer is especially good at reflecting medium and shortwave EM waves, which have frequencies between 300 kHz and 3 MHz.

Reflecting Radio Waves

Think of it like a mirror for radio signals. When radio waves travel up from Earth, they hit the E region. Instead of going straight into space, they bounce back down to Earth. This bouncing is called total internal reflection.

Long-Distance Communication

This reflection ability became super useful in the late 1920s. Before this, radio signals could only travel short distances. But with the E region, people could send AM signals (Amplitude Modulated signals) much farther away. This was a huge step forward for radio communication, allowing messages to travel across continents and oceans. It made long-distance communication possible and helped connect the world.

See also

In Spanish: Capa Kennelly-Heaviside para niños