Final answer:
Heinrich Hertz is credited with first discovering radio waves in 1887, and Guglielmo Marconi is recognized for inventing wireless telegraphy, which he demonstrated with transatlantic signal transmission by 1903, eventually leading to the foundation of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual credited with the first discovery of radio waves was Heinrich Hertz in 1887. However, it was the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi who, beginning in 1894, adapted and improved upon existing technologies to develop the first practical system of wireless telegraphy. Marconi's efforts in creating wireless communication systems ultimately led to the transmission of signals across the Atlantic Ocean by 1903 and the founding of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in 1900. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the modern era of telecommunications, influencing the development of television, cell phones, and wireless networks around the globe.
Heinrich Hertz and the Discovery of Radio Waves
In 1887, Heinrich Hertz conducted experiments that produced and detected invisible electromagnetic waves, known today as radio waves. This significant scientific victory furthered the electromagnetic wave model of light as proposed by James Maxwell and opened the door for the future of communication technology.
Marconi's Wireless Telegraphy
Marconi's system was initially limited to the transmission of Morse code, similar to the wire-based telegraph invented by Samuel Morse. However, Marconi's vision and entrepreneurship played a pivotal role in connecting land to ships and eventually led to the groundbreaking transatlantic wireless communication in 1901. His endeavors were contested by other inventors such as Nikola Tesla, yet Marconi's contributions are often highlighted in history.