ELI5 How come a foot or two of brick/plaster can stop a cell phone signal but (moderate) hills and densely packed buildings in urban areas do not?

Question

ELI5 How come a foot or two of brick/plaster can stop a cell phone signal but (moderate) hills and densely packed buildings in urban areas do not?

In: Technology

Answer 1

A phone signal (or any EM radiation) is fundamentally the same idea as a flickering light. A light will shine through some materials, and bounce/reflect off and around objects in an otherwise open space. Your phone signal acts similarly.