This is one of those 'FWIW' thingys, nothing new to it, just a reminder.
The basic requirement for an antenna (of any sort) is that it has to be an electrical conductor. It doesn't much matter what size/shape that conductor it, it just has to be able to conduct electricity. It's a good idea to use such a 'size' that the current being dealt with doesn't melt that conductor, but that does not mean huge sizes by any means.
The typical transmitter can get really 'picky' about what's connected to it. That's because what's connected to it usually ends up as a 'part' of that transmitter's circuitry and has to have particular 'values' so that it works correctly. Those 'values' include impedance (dealing with the transfer of power), and resonance (dealing with efficiency, radiating ability). There are a couple of other 'values' but those two are the biggies, sort of.
From there it's a matter of what you happen to have on hand (or can get), the amount of room you have to fit an antenna into, and your imagination. The biggest problem with antennas is that there seems to be an obsession with having a 'perfect' one. Unfortunately, there are no 'perfect' antennas for all occasions. This one may be the 'best' for one particular situation, but it's probably going to be the 'worst' in another situation. That 'best/worst' is a matter of degree and is different for everyone. ('Butter-pecan' is THE best ice cream, your opinion doesn't count! Right?)
For instance...
There are as many different versions of a 2 meter 'J'-pole as there are people making them. If it works at all it means that the maker at least got into the ball-park as far as size/shape/electrical characteristics go. I know of someone who built one onto a bed-slat. I've drawn an antenna on paper using a carbon pencil. Used foil burglar-alarm tape on glass. They all worked. I can't say they worked well, but they certainly worked. You can make almost anything 'work' if you want to bad enough.
So, what's the point of this? Keep an 'open' mind and don't 'rule-out' stuff just because...
- Paul
Good luck with your class!