How can an electric signal or any type of signals can go through solid objects?

[Art Lover]

I wish my remote was passing through my TV signals.

Originally Posted by f_m

That's because nothing is really solid. Everything is a bunch of atoms held together by bonds, but there are gaps in between all of them. You just can't see it with the naked eye. All remote controls use signals similar to visible light, but since they are not visible light you just can't see them. Visible light can penetrate some kinds of materials (window glass), and can be reflected off other materials (mirror), so in the same way, the remote control signal (infrared or RF (radio frequency)) can penetrate or reflect off certain materials.

All the time, radio and TV signals are passing through your body.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by f_m

That's because nothing is really solid. Everything is a bunch of atoms held together by bonds, but there are gaps in between all of them. You just can't see it with the naked eye. All remote controls use signals similar to visible light, but since they are not visible light you just can't see them. Visible light can penetrate some kinds of materials (window glass), and can be reflected off other materials (mirror), so in the same way, the remote control signal (infrared or RF (radio frequency)) can penetrate or reflect off certain materials.

All the time, radio and TV signals are passing through your body.

Hmmmm,,, and all this time I thought it was that spicy sausage pizza...

[Bull Winkus]

Originally Posted by BORGUSX

I was wondering how can a signal actually go through solid object? For example, if I cover my TV remote with a blanket and I press on, then the TV will turn on even the remote is covered! How is that so when it comes down to is properties and its structure? Talking in terms of if I was a signal, but I can't go through the wall because I would get blocked!

Hard to believe there is anything more to be said about this, but here's 2 cents worth.

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[jtur88]

I held my hand right in front of the remote. Closer than about 1/2 inch, it doesn work, but if I block the remote with my hand more than 1/2 inch, it works. So, apparently, the remote pretty well fills the romm with whatever signal is required to turn off the TV.

I tried it with an opaque tea-cup. Again, if the end of the remote is inside the cup, it does not work, and the rim of the cup has to be more than 1/2 inch out from the remote. So apparently, the remote sends out a fanned-out signal-cone, maybe about 120-degrees, and the sensor on the tv picks it up. However, it will work if the end of the remote is inside a transparent glass jar, so it must be light. Shooting through a toilet paoer roill works if the tube is ained inside that 120-degree cone, but the remote can be inside the roll.

Years ago, I found that if there is a fan in the room blowing briskly across the room, it "blows away" the remote signal, and the remobe will not work if aimed through the path of the wind tunnel. I have no idea what prunciple was used than, this would be in the 1980s. I think in those days, it was an ultrasnonc signal, which could have been affected somewhat by air disturbance in the path. But this phenomenon still baffles me.

[eizhowa]

Originally Posted by Radek

See above.

Nothing is truly solid, some things are better at reflection, and some are better at absorption. Lead tends to absorb, rather than reflect I believe... so, if you pointed the remote at lead, it wouldn't work, period. Aluminum foil tends to reflect, so point it at aluminum foil on the opposite wall and it should work.


For instance, satellite dishes looks like this:

/
|
\_____________9

Where the 9 is actually the transmitter, pointing at the dish, and the dish itself reflects the signal to where it needs to go.

Can I then conclude that if i was standing in the opposite direction of the tv, and pointed the remote towards a sheet of aluminium, that it would turn on?

Would it work in the same way with the infrared gate on my mobile phone?

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by eizhowa

Can I then conclude that if i was standing in the opposite direction of the tv, and pointed the remote towards a sheet of aluminium, that it would turn on?

Would it work in the same way with the infrared gate on my mobile phone?

Depends where the sheet is aimed and how smooth. It's would work just likea mirror--if the remote can see the receiver in the aluminum it should be able to work. In fact, the requirement for good reflection in the IR is a little less strict, so visible reflection should be sufficient.

[Brian.Pearson]

I once did an experiment with this, years ago. I got the remote, faced away from the TV, held my hand at a 45 angle, and aimed the remote straight at my hand, then proceeded to change channels, turned the TV off and on and so forth.