I've been wondering if a silver coil would perform better as an antenna for a crystal radio compared to the traditional copper one. Silver is known for its high conductivity, which makes me think it should pick up signals better, right? I know we typically use copper because it's affordable and has low resistance, but given silver's properties, wouldn't an antenna made from silver be more effective?
2 Answers
The difference between silver and copper is actually pretty minor, maybe less than 6%. In crystal radios, resistance usually isn't a significant factor when it comes to performance.
While silver does have better conductivity, using a thicker copper wire can give you similar results at a much lower cost. So, in practical terms, copper is still a solid choice for antennas.