Eli5: How did telegraphs function?

Question

Eli5: How did telegraphs function?

In: Technology

Answer 1

The telegraph uses electric signals. The sender makes and breaks an electrical contact, similar to how you can flip a light switch on and off, which creates a sound on the receiving end. The signal travels through a long electrical wire to the receiving end where an another person interprets and transcribes the sounds to text form or speaks it out loud.