Hooked on Science: Unlock vehicle with brain

Remote keyless entry for vehicles has a limited range, but it can be boosted by using your head, or a gallon of water.

Materials

• Vehicle with a remote keyless entry
• Gallon of water

Instructions

STEP 1: Walk far enough away from the vehicle so the remote keyless entry does not unlock the vehicle.

STEP 2: Place the remote keyless entry against your chin or against a gallon of water, attempt to unlock the vehicle and observe.

Explanation

The remote keyless entry unlocks the vehicle when placed against your chin or against the gallon of water because the interactions between electromagnetic waves and the water in your head or in the gallon of water increase the power of the remote keyless entry.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website, hookedonscience.org, for webcasts and experiments.