Class 3 have been finding out about the wireless operators who worked on the Titanic.
There were two of them and their main job was to send messages from the passengers and to pick up messages from other ships.
They sent messages using a spark gap transmitter. We searched online and found a clip of a spark gap transmitter in action.
Josh really liked listening to the buzzing sound that was made by this transmitter, he said this was his favourite activity of the afternoon.
We could see why the wireless operators were nicknamed ‘Sparks’!
The messages were sent in morse code. We found a morse code app on the iPads and had a go for ourselves.
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Jason used the iPad to write letters in Morse Code. He says that he enjoyed trying to figure out the dots and dashes for each letter.
Geordie says that you could type your name into the iPad and dots and dashes appeared – your name in Morse Code!
Then we decided to link the iPads via Bluetooth.
We used one as a transmitter and one as a receiver and sent an S.O.S message in morse code from one iPad to the other.
Geordie says S.O.S. is an emergency signal for when you are in danger.
Josh can remember that the morse code for S.O.S. is 3 dots, 3 dashes then 3 dots.
The Titanic sent S.O.S. signals as well as another distress signal when it was sinking, one of the first times that S.O.S. had been used.
Other ships picked up these signals and one called the Carpathia was able to come and help the survivors.
More interesting information about the Titanic. Thanks for sharing class 3. This app looks like lots of fun. Could someone show me how to use it please?
We were very interested to read about all of your Titanic work, George in our class has said he would like to visit with a friend as he already knows lots and would like to see what you are doing….
It sounds like you are enjoying learning about the titanic.