Internet Under the Sea: How Data Travels the Globe

This mission explores how the internet travels across vast distances, just like the undersea cables we learned about in "Internet Under the Sea"! We'll discover how signals can travel through different materials.

The Big Question

How can we show that signals can travel through different things, like light traveling through a cable?

What You'll Need

• A dark room
• A flashlight
• A long tube (like a paper towel roll or wrapping paper tube)
• A piece of cardboard or cardstock
• Tape

Mission Steps

1. Prepare Your Tube. Cover one end of the tube with the cardboard and tape it securely. This will be your "cable end."
2. Make a Small Hole. Carefully poke a tiny hole in the center of the cardboard at the taped end. This hole should be just big enough for the flashlight beam to pass through.
3. Shine Your Light. Point the flashlight at the hole you made.
4. Observe the Light. Look through the open end of the tube. You should see the light beam traveling down the tube.

Talk About It

• What did you see when you shone the flashlight into the tube?
• How is the light traveling through the tube like data traveling through an undersea cable?
• Can you think of other ways signals or information might travel?

Take It Further

For older rangers, try experimenting with different lengths or types of tubes. Does the light travel as well through a shorter tube or a wider tube? You could also try bending the tube slightly and see if the light can still make it through, imagining how undersea cables have to navigate around obstacles on the ocean floor.

FAQ

Q: My child can't see the light very well. A: Make sure the room is as dark as possible, and try using a brighter flashlight. You might also need to adjust how far away from the tube you are. Q: Is the cardboard hole supposed to be big or small? A: A smaller hole is better because it focuses the light and makes it easier to see the beam traveling down the tube. Q: Can we use something other than a flashlight? A: Yes, as long as it can create a small, focused beam of light. A laser pointer (with adult supervision and caution) could also work.