short essay on invention of electricity

Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example

Electricity is the most important invention: essay introduction.

The contemporary world and its society are known for the highly developed technologies that make people’s lives easier and simpler. The number of useful and sophisticated inventions grows nearly every day. The scientists work on new ways of studying the world we live in, exploring its resources and using them to improve our quality of life.

This process began centuries ago, yet its most active stage was launched in the middle of the nineteenth century, and one of the major moving forces of the rapid technological development was the reception and application of electricity.

Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Main Body

The period of time when the scientists of Europe first started using electricity to create powerful engines and high functioning mechanisms gave a push to such processes as industrialization, urbanization, and globalization; it made a massive impact on the world’s society, its way of living, and habits, it produced massive cultural, political and economic changes.

There is a common misconception that electricity actually may be an invention, but it is one of the natural forms of energy, it has always existed on our planet so it could not possibly be “invented”. The most influential and powerful invention was the discovery of electricity and of ways of using it for various technologies.

Historically, some of the first encounters humans made with electricity date back to Ancient Greece, when people first discovered the rubbing fur and amber together created the attraction between the two surfaces and also lighter objects, which occurred due to static electricity (Atkinson, 2014). This cannot be called a discovery because the reasons or practical use of this phenomenon were not understood.

The more recent interest towards electricity started to form in the 1600s when William Gilbert, inspired by the writings of ancient Greeks created his own work about magnetism, he also was the one who introduced the term “electrical” (Bellis, 2014). After that, such scientists as Descartes, Fermat, Grimaldi, Hooke, Von Guericke and Gray developed the knowledge about electricity.

In 1747 came Franklin’s theory of positive and negative electric charges (History of Electricity from its Beginning, 2012). This theory was followed by Faraday’s discovery of electric induction and the work of electric currents. Finally, the geniuses of Edison and Tesla brought light to all the average households and made the first hydroelectric engines and plants possible (The History of Electricity, 2014).

Ever since electricity and its qualities and possibilities were discovered the speed of technological progress in our world has been growing. The discovery of electricity became the necessary basis for the occurrence of multiple other sciences and inventions that are constantly used and are of crucial meaning in the contemporary world.

The modern society, its life and well being depends on electricity wholly. We cannot imagine our lives without cell phones, computers, the internet, coffee makers, toasters, washing machines, and microwave ovens, and all of these devices work due to electricity, but we often forget that more crucial needs of ours are fulfilled with the help of this discovery (Electricity, women and the home, n. d.).

For example, light in our cities, streets, and homes is electricity, water in our taps is running because of electrical pumps. The impact of electricity on the society of the world and its lifestyle is hard to overestimate. Today it is responsible for our survival.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century at least eighty percent of the population of our planet lived in rural areas and worked in agriculture, the appearance of electric engines created many workplaces in the cities and enforced the process of urbanization. In the modern world, the majority of people live in or close to urban areas.

This is how electricity changed our social geography. Besides, electricity has made an impact on the taste of our food, our education, our medicine and communication (Valdes, 2012). Electricity in hospitals helps to save millions of lives every day. The internet and cell phones have speeded up the world’s communication massively, changed the way people interact with each other. Electricity gave us new modes of transportation too – trams, trains, and trolleybuses function due to electric power.

Basically, the major electric generators are responsible for human life support. Besides, such huge inventions as nuclear power and space exploration are possible because of the discovery of electric power. Electricity and the knowledge of its current, its qualities and effects, its structure and capacities are the discoveries that influenced our world, changed it, shaped it into what we know today. Every human-made object we can touch or see today was made with the help of electricity one way or another.

Our culture and art also depend on electricity a lot, for example, some of the most ancient paintings and manuscripts are preserved with the help of refrigerators working from electricity. The modern mass media such as radio and television exist because of electricity. The music is written, played and delivered to the audiences today with the help of electricity.

Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Conclusion

Finally, neurosurgery works through the understanding of electric impulses human brain sends to the body making it function. Electricity constantly penetrates humans, this world, and every aspect of life; this is why its discovery can be considered the most influential and important invention.

Reference List

Atkinson, N. (2014). Who Discovered Electricity? Web.

Bellis, M. (2014). History of Electricity . Web.

Electricity, women and the home. (n. d.). Science Museum . Web.

History of Electricity from its Beginning . (2012). Scholz Electrical. Web.

The History of Electricity , (2014). Code-Electrical . Web.

Valdes, C. (2012). Electricity: How it Changed the World Forever . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 30). Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example. https://ivypanda.com/essays/electricity-as-the-best-invention/

"Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example." IvyPanda , 30 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/electricity-as-the-best-invention/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example'. 30 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/electricity-as-the-best-invention/.

1. IvyPanda . "Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/electricity-as-the-best-invention/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Electricity Is the Most Important Invention: Essay Example." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/electricity-as-the-best-invention/.

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Essay On Electricity

Electricity is a form of energy, as we have other forms of energy like heat and light. We feel the existence of electricity when a refrigerator is on, an electric heater is on, or when an electric bulb is switched on. It is fascinating that electrical appliances like ceiling fans, mobile phones, laptops, etc., surround us. Also, the natural phenomenon of lightning striking the ground involves electricity. Here are a few sample essays on ‘Electricity’.

100 Words Essay On Electricity

Electricity is a form of energy that is used to power lights, appliances, and many other things in our homes and buildings. It is created by generators, which use fuel to create a flow of electric charges. These charges are then sent through wires to our homes, where they power everything from our lights to our televisions.

Electricity is a powerful force that can be both helpful and dangerous. It is important to always be careful around electricity and to follow safety rules when using it.

Overall, electricity is an essential part of modern life and is used to power many of the things that make our lives easier and more convenient. Understanding how electricity works and how to use it safely is an important part of being a responsible student and citizen.

200 Words Essay On Electricity

Electricity is a form of energy that is all around us and plays a vital role in our daily lives. It is the force that powers everything from the lights in our homes to the computers we use at school.

Science Behind It | Electricity is a flow of tiny particles called electrons. These electrons flow through wires and create a current, which is what powers our lights and appliances. The electricity that we use in our homes is created at power plants, where generators use fuel like coal, natural gas, or wind to create the flow of electrons. It is sent through a network of transmission and distribution lines, which are like a big spider web, to reach different parts of the country. From there, it is sent to homes and buildings through smaller wires called service lines.

It is important to remember that electricity can be both helpful and dangerous. It is important to follow safety rules when using electricity. For example, it is important to never touch electrical wires with wet hands or to plug too many things into one outlet. Always be sure to ask an adult for help if you have any questions or concerns about electricity.

500 Words Essay On Electricity

Electricity is a powerful force that has a significant impact on our daily lives. It is the energy that powers everything from the lights in our homes to the computers we use at school. It enables us to have access to modern appliances, technology and communication.

How Electricity Affects Our Lives

One of the most obvious ways that electricity affects our lives is by providing the power for our lights, appliances, and other devices. Without electricity, we would have to rely on things like candles and manual labor to get things done. This would make our lives much more difficult and less convenient.

Electricity also plays a vital role in communication, it allows us to stay connected with friends and family through phone calls, text messages, and social media. It also allows us to access information and entertainment through the internet, television, and radio.

Furthermore, electricity also contributes to the development of industries, it is used to power machines and equipment that are essential for manufacturing and production, without electricity, it would be difficult to produce goods and services.

However, it is also important to consider the negative effects of electricity on the environment. The production of electricity often involves burning fossil fuels which release pollutants into the air and contribute to global warming. Moreover, the overuse of electricity can lead to power shortages and blackouts.

Overall, electricity has a profound effect on our lives, it makes our lives easier and more convenient, it contributes to communication and industry development, but it also has negative effects on the environment. It is important to be aware of how we use electricity and to make a conscious effort to use it responsibly and efficiently.

Discovery Of Electricity

The discovery of electricity is a story that spans centuries, with many important figures contributing to our understanding of this powerful force.

It all began in ancient times, with the Greeks and Romans experimenting with static electricity by rubbing different materials together. They observed that certain materials, such as amber, would become charged and attract nearby objects.

In the 1600s, English scientist William Gilbert conducted extensive research on electricity and magnetism, and coined the term "electricus," meaning "like amber." He also discovered that many materials, not just amber, could become charged.

In the 1700s, several scientists made significant advancements in the understanding of electricity. Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment, proving that lightning was a form of electricity. He also invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes.

In the 1800s, scientists such as Alessandro Volta and Michael Faraday made even more strides in our understanding of electricity. Volta created the first battery, while Faraday discovered the principle of electromagnetic induction, which is the basis for the operation of generators and motors.

As the years went on, scientists continued to make advancements in our understanding of electricity. The invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison in 1879 changed the world forever, making electric light a practical reality for the first time.

Throughout the years, many people have contributed to our understanding of electricity, and it is a story of curiosity, experimentation and perseverance. Today we are able to enjoy the convenience and comfort that electricity has brought to our lives, but it all started with a spark of curiosity and a desire to understand the world around us.

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Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs.

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story.

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook.

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion.

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article.

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications.

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product.

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans.

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party.

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems.

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process.

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History of Electricity

Electrical Science Was Established in the Elizabethan Age

Invention Timelines
Famous Inventions
Famous Inventors
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Computers & The Internet
American History
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The history of electricity begins with William Gilbert (1544–1603), a physician and natural scientist who served Queen Elizabeth the first of England. Before Gilbert, all that was known about electricity and magnetism was that a lodestone ( magnetite ) possessed magnetic properties and that rubbing amber and jet would attract bits of various materials to start sticking.

In 1600, Gilbert published his treatise "De magnete, Magneticisique Corporibus" (On the Magnet). Printed in scholarly Latin, the book explained years of Gilbert's research and experiments on electricity and magnetism. Gilbert raised the interest in the new science greatly. It was Gilbert who coined the expression "electrica" in his famous book.

Early Inventors

Inspired and educated by Gilbert, several Europeans inventors, including Otto von Guericke (1602–1686) of Germany, Charles Francois Du Fay (1698–1739) of France, and Stephen Gray (1666–1736) of England expanded the knowledge.

Otto von Guericke was the first to prove that a vacuum could exist. Creating a vacuum was essential for all kinds of further research into electronics. In 1660, von Guericke invented the machine that produced static electricity; this was the first electric generator.

In 1729, Stephen Gray discovered the principle of the conduction of electricity and, in 1733, Charles Francois du Fay discovered that electricity comes in two forms which he called resinous (-) and vitreous (+), now called negative and positive.

The Leyden Jar

The Leyden jar was the original capacitor, a device that stores and releases an electrical charge. (At that time electricity was considered the mysterious fluid or force.) The Leyden jar was invented in 1745 nearly simultaneously in Holland by academic Pieter van Musschenbroek (1692–1761) In 1745 and in Germany by German clergyman and scientist, Ewald Christian Von Kleist (1715–1759). When Von Kleist first touched his Leyden jar he received a powerful shock that knocked him to the floor.

The Leyden jar was named after Musschenbroek's hometown and university Leyden, by the French scientist and cleric Jean-Antoine Nollet (1700–1770). The jar was also called the Kleistian jar after Von Kleist, but this name did not stick.

Ben Franklin, Henry Cavendish, and Luigi Galvani

U.S. founding father Ben Franklin's (1705–1790) important discovery was that electricity and lightning were one and the same. Franklin's lightning rod was the first practical application of electricity. atural philosopher Henry Cavendish of England, Coulomb of France, and Luigi Galvani of Italy made scientific contributions towards finding practical uses for electricity.

In 1747, British philosopher Henry Cavendish (1731–1810) started measuring the conductivity (the ability to carry an electrical current) of different materials and published his results. French military engineer Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806) discovered in 1779 what would later be named "Coulomb's Law," which described the electrostatic force of attraction and repulsion. And in 1786, Italian physician Luigi Galvani (1737–1798) demonstrated what we now understand to be the electrical basis of nerve impulses. Galvani famously made frog muscles twitch by jolting them with a spark from an electrostatic machine.

Following the work of Cavendish and Galvani came a group of important scientists and inventors, including Alessandro Volta (1745–1827) of Italy, Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted (1777–1851), French physicist Andre-Marie Ampere (1775–1836), Georg Ohm (1789–1854) of Germany, Michael Faraday (1791–1867) of England, and Joseph Henry (1797–1878) of the U.S.

Work With Magnets

Joseph Henry was a researcher in the field of electricity whose work inspired many inventors. Henry's first discovery was that the power of a magnet could be immensely strengthened by winding it with insulated wire. He was the first person to make a magnet that could lift 3,500 pounds of weight. Henry showed the difference between "quantity" magnets composed of short lengths of wire connected in parallel and excited by a few large cells, and "intensity" magnets wound with a single long wire and excited by a battery composed of cells in series. This was an original discovery, greatly increasing both the immediate usefulness of the magnet and its possibilities for future experiments.

The Oriental Impostor Suspended

Michael Faraday , William Sturgeon (1783–1850), and other inventors were quick to recognize the value of Henry's discoveries. Sturgeon magnanimously said, "Professor Joseph Henry has been enabled to produce a magnetic force which totally eclipses every other in the whole annals of magnetism, and no parallel is to be found since the miraculous suspension of the celebrated Oriental impostor in his iron coffin."

That commonly used phrase is a reference to an obscure story bantered about by these European scientists about Muhammad (571–632 CE), the founder of Islam . That tale was not about Muhammad at all, in fact, but rather a tale told by Pliny the Elder (23–70 CE) about a coffin in Alexandria, Egypt. According to Pliny, the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria had been built with powerful lodestones, so powerful that the iron coffin of Cleopatra's younger sister Arsinoë IV (68–41 BCE) was said to have been suspended in the air.

Joseph Henry also discovered the phenomena of self-induction and mutual induction. In his experiment, a current sent through a wire in the second story of the building induced currents through a similar wire in the cellar two floors below.

The telegraph was an early invention that communicated messages at a distance over a wire using electricity that was later replaced by the telephone. The word telegraphy comes from the Greek words tele which means far away and grapho which means write.

The first attempts to send signals by electricity (telegraph) had been made many times before Henry became interested in the problem. William Sturgeon's invention of the electromagnet encouraged researchers in England to experiment with the electromagnet. The experiments failed and only produced a current that weakened after a few hundred feet.

The Basis for the Electric Telegraph

However, Henry strung a mile of fine wire, placed an "intensity" battery at one end, and made the armature strike a bell at the other. In this experiment, Joseph Henry discovered the essential mechanics behind the electric telegraph .

This discovery was made in 1831, a full year before Samuel Morse (1791–1872) invented the telegraph. There is no controversy as to who invented the first telegraph machine. That was Morse's achievement, but the discovery which motivated and allowed Morse to invent the telegraph was Joseph Henry's achievement.

In Henry's own words: "This was the first discovery of the fact that a galvanic current could be transmitted to a great distance with so little a diminution of force as to produce mechanical effects, and of the means by which the transmission could be accomplished. I saw that the electric telegraph was now practicable. I had not in mind any particular form of telegraph, but referred only to the general fact that it was now demonstrated that a galvanic current could be transmitted to great distances, with sufficient power to produce mechanical effects adequate to the desired object."

Magnetic Engine

Henry next turned to designing a magnetic engine and succeeded in making a reciprocating bar motor, on which he installed the first automatic pole changer, or commutator, ever used with an electric battery. He did not succeed in producing direct rotary motion. His bar oscillated like the walking beam of a steamboat.

Electric Cars

Thomas Davenport (1802–1851), a blacksmith from Brandon, Vermont, built a road-worthy electric car in 1835. Twelve years later U.S. electrical engineer Moses Farmer (1820–1893) exhibited an electric-driven locomotive. In 1851, Massachusetts inventor Charles Grafton Page (1712–1868) drove an electric car on the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from Washington to Bladensburg, at the rate of nineteen miles an hour.

However, the cost of batteries was too great at the time and the use of the electric motor in transportation not yet practical.

Electric Generators

The principle behind the dynamo or electric generator was discovered by Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry but the process of its development into a practical power generator consumed many years. Without a dynamo for the generation of power, the development of the electric motor was at a standstill, and electricity could not be widely used for transportation, manufacturing, or lighting like it is used for today.

Street Lights

The arc light as a practical illuminating device was invented in 1878 by Ohio engineer Charles Brush (1849–1929). Others had attacked the problem of electric lighting, but a lack of suitable carbons stood in the way of their success. Brush made several lamps light in series from one dynamo. The first Brush lights were used for street illumination in Cleveland, Ohio.

Other inventors improved the arc light, but there were drawbacks. For outdoor lighting and for large halls arc lights worked well, but arc lights could not be used in small rooms. Besides, they were in series, that is, the current passed through every lamp in turn, and an accident to one threw the whole series out of action. The whole problem of indoor lighting was to be solved by one of America's most famous inventors: Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931).

Thomas Edison Stock Ticker

The first of Edison's multitudinous inventions with electricity was an automatic vote recorder, for which he received a patent in 1868, but was unable to arouse any interest in the device. Then he invented a stock ticker , and started a ticker service in Boston with 30 or 40 subscribers and operated from a room over the Gold Exchange. This machine Edison attempted to sell in New York, but he returned to Boston without having succeeded. He then invented a duplex telegraph by which two messages might be sent simultaneously, but at a test, the machine failed because of the stupidity of the assistant.

In 1869, Edison was on the spot when the telegraph failed at the Gold Indicator Company, a concern furnishing Stock Exchange gold prices to its subscribers. That led to his appointment as superintendent, but when a change in the ownership of the company threw him out of the position he formed, with Franklin L. Pope , the partnership of Pope, Edison, and Company, the first firm of electrical engineers in the United States.

Improved Stock Ticker, Lamps, and Dynamos

Not long afterward Thomas Edison released the invention which started him on the road to success. This was the improved stock ticker, and the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company paid him $40,000 for it. Thomas Edison immediately set up a shop in Newark. He improved the system of automatic telegraphy that was in use at that time and introduced it into England. He experimented with submarine cables and worked out a system of quadruplex telegraphy by which one wire was made to do the work of four.

These two inventions were bought by Jay Gould , owner of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company. Gould paid $30,000 for the quadruplex system but refused to pay for the automatic telegraph. Gould had bought the Western Union, his only competition. "When Gould got the Western Union," said Edison, "I knew no further progress in telegraphy was possible, and I went into other lines."

Edison resumed his work for the Western Union Telegraph Company, where he invented a carbon transmitter and sold it to the Western Union for $100,000. On the strength of that, Edison set up laboratories and factories at Menlo Park, New Jersey, in 1876, and it was there that he invented the phonograph , patented in 1878, and began a series of experiments which produced his incandescent lamp.

Thomas Edison was dedicated to producing an electric lamp for indoor use. His first research was for a durable filament which would burn in a vacuum. A series of experiments with a platinum wire and various refractory metals had unsatisfactory results, as did many other substances, including human hair. Edison concluded that carbon of some sort was the solution rather than a metal—English inventor Joseph Swan (1828–1914), had came to the same conclusion in 1850.

In October 1879, after fourteen months of hard work and the expenditure of $40,000, a carbonized cotton thread sealed in one of Edison's globes was tested and lasted forty hours. "If it will burn forty hours now," said Edison , "I know I can make it burn a hundred." And so he did. A better filament was needed. Edison found it in carbonized strips of bamboo.

Edison Dynamo

Edison also developed his own type of dynamo , the largest ever made up to that time. Along with the Edison incandescent lamps, it was one of the wonders of the Paris Electrical Exposition of 1881.

Installation in Europe and America of plants for electrical service soon followed. Edison's first great central station, supplying power for three thousand lamps, was erected at Holborn Viaduct, London, in 1882, and in September of that year the Pearl Street Station in New York City, the first central station in America, was put into operation.

Sources and Further Reading

Beauchamp, Kenneth G. "History of Telegraphy." Stevenage UK: Institute of Engineering and Technology, 2001.
Brittain, J.E. "Turning Points in American Electrical History." New York: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Press, 1977.
Klein, Maury. "The Power Makers: Steam, Electricity, and the Men Who Invented Modern America." New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2008.
Shectman, Jonathan. "Groundbreaking Scientific Experiments, Inventions, and Discoveries of the 18th Century." Greenwood Press, 2003.
Timeline of Electronics
A Timeline of Events in Electromagnetism
Thomas Edison's Greatest Inventions
The Basics: An Introduction to Electricity and Electronics
History of Electric Christmas Tree Lights
FAQ: What is Electricity?
Biography of Alessandro Volta, Inventor of the Battery
Biography of Granville T. Woods, American Inventor
How the Telephone Was Invented
Samuel Morse and the Invention of the Telegraph
Notable American Inventors of the Industrial Revolution
Biography of Samuel F.B. Morse, Inventor of the Telegraph
Thomas Edison's 'Muckers'
Chemistry Timeline
The History of Fluorescent Lights
Death, Money, and the History of the Electric Chair

History Cooperative

Exploring the Pioneers: Who Invented Electricity and How?

Electricity, a force that powers our modern world, has a history filled with innovation and discovery. To unravel the mysteries of this essential energy source, we often ponder about who invented electricity and where it really comes from.

Table of Contents

Who Invented Electricity?

Pinpointing a single individual who “invented” electricity is a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. The story of electricity’s invention is one of collective human curiosity and innovation, with various key figures contributing to its understanding and utilization.

The Early Stirrings of Electrical Discovery

The journey towards harnessing the power of electricity takes us back to ancient civilizations , long before the names of famous inventors like Franklin, Volta, Faraday, Edison, and Tesla became synonymous with electrical innovation. In these distant times, the concept of electricity was still in its infancy, but early observations and interactions with electrical phenomena were the first sparks of curiosity that ignited the path toward understanding this mysterious force.

Ancient Greeks: Amber and Static Electricity

Around 600 BC, the ancient Greeks made one of the earliest recorded observations related to electricity. They discovered that when amber (a fossilized tree resin) was rubbed with fur, it gained the ability to attract small objects. This phenomenon, known as static electricity, was a rudimentary but crucial step in understanding electrical effects. The Greeks named “electron” after the Greek word for amber, thus giving birth to the term “electricity.”

READ MORE: 15 Examples of Fascinating and Advanced Ancient Technology You Need To Check Out

However, the Greeks’ understanding of electricity was primarily limited to these curious phenomena. They had not yet harnessed it for practical applications, and its deeper nature remained elusive.

Ancient Egyptians: The Lodestone Connection

Across the Mediterranean in ancient Egypt , a different thread of electrical discovery was unfolding. The Egyptians were well-acquainted with the attractive properties of lodestones—naturally occurring magnetic minerals. They used lodestones in various ways, such as creating primitive compasses for navigation.

Although lodestones possess magnetic properties, they are intrinsically linked to the realm of electricity through the study of electromagnetism. However, at the time, the Egyptians likely saw these phenomena as separate and did not fully grasp the connection between magnetism and electricity.

Ancient Chinese: Experiments and Discoveries

In ancient China, scholars and inventors were also embarking on early experiments with electricity, albeit on a limited scale. They documented the effects of certain electric fish species that could produce electric shocks. These observations hinted at the potential of electrical phenomena to interact with living organisms.

The Significance of Early Discoveries

These early glimpses into the world of electricity may seem rudimentary by today’s standards, but they were vital in laying the groundwork for future explorations. They marked the first steps in humanity’s ongoing journey to comprehend and harness this invisible force of nature. While practical applications were yet to be realized, these early observations were pivotal in sparking curiosity and encouraging further scientific inquiry.

At the time, the significance of these discoveries likely varied across cultures. The Greeks may have marveled at the mysterious attractive properties of amber, while the Egyptians prized lodestones for their navigational utility. In China, the experiments with electric fish and thunder-stones were perhaps seen as curious novelties, with their full implications yet to be realized.

Benjamin Franklin , an 18th-century polymath, is celebrated for his daring experiments with electricity. Though he didn’t “invent” electricity, his contributions significantly advanced our understanding of this natural force, leaving an indelible mark on science history.

Electricity in the 18th Century

Electricity in the 18th century was a mysterious and enigmatic force. While people observed phenomena like static electricity, the nature of electricity remained unclear. It was a subject of scientific curiosity, with limited practical applications.

Benjamin Franklin: A Renaissance Man

Born in 1706, Franklin was a true Renaissance man—scientist, inventor, statesman, writer, and a founding father of the United States. His curiosity led him to explore the mysteries of electricity. Early experiments with Leyden jars and electrostatic generators contributed to the identification of positive and negative electrical charges.

The Kite Experiment: Unraveling Lightning

Franklin’s famous 1752 kite experiment, conducted during a thunderstorm, used a kite, a key, and a Leyden jar to collect lightning’s electric charge. His shocking discovery proved that lightning was a form of electricity. This experiment bridged the gap between controlled laboratory electrical effects and the powerful displays of lightning in nature.

Legacy and Impact

Beyond the kite experiment, Franklin’s pioneering work extended to electrical conductors, insulators, and the invention of the lightning rod. His contributions laid the foundation for future electrical discoveries and practical applications. Franklin’s legacy endures, shaping the modern world powered by the electricity he helped us understand and harness.

Alessandro Volta: The Birth of the Battery

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta made groundbreaking contributions to the field of electricity, ultimately leading to the invention of the voltaic pile in 1800. This invention marked a significant milestone in the understanding and practical application of electricity, setting the stage for transformative developments in the years to come.

Electricity in the Late 18th Century

During the late 18th century, electricity was a subject of intense scientific inquiry and experimentation. Researchers across Europe and beyond were exploring various aspects of electrical phenomena, often using electrostatic generators and Leyden jars. While these early experiments generated sparks and shocks, they were intermittent and lacked the ability to produce a continuous flow of electrical current.

The challenge of producing a sustained electrical current was a critical barrier to practical applications of electricity. Without a means to generate a stable and reliable source of electricity, its potential remained largely untapped.

Alessandro Volta: The Scientist

Alessandro Volta, born in Como, Italy, in 1745, was a brilliant scientist with a passion for electricity. He was not only a physicist but also a professor of experimental physics, teaching at various prestigious institutions in Italy. Volta’s relentless curiosity and dedication to his work led him to conduct groundbreaking experiments in the field of electricity.

One of Volta’s key contributions was his understanding of the chemical nature of electricity. He believed that electricity was not just a physical phenomenon but could also be generated through chemical reactions. This belief would form the basis for his groundbreaking invention.

The Voltaic Pile: A Revolutionary Invention

In 1800, Alessandro Volta unveiled his revolutionary creation: the voltaic pile, often regarded as the world’s first true battery . The voltaic pile consisted of a stack of alternating discs made of two different metals (typically zinc and copper) separated by pieces of cardboard soaked in an electrolyte solution, such as saltwater or sulfuric acid. The arrangement of metals and electrolytes allowed for a continuous flow of electrical current.

The key innovation of the voltaic pile was its ability to generate a stable and consistent electrical current over an extended period. This breakthrough addressed the fundamental limitation of earlier electrical devices and opened the door to practical applications of electricity.

Impact and Legacy

Alessandro Volta’s invention of the voltaic pile had a profound impact on the scientific community and society at large. It laid the foundation for the development of electrical circuits, allowing scientists and engineers to explore and experiment with electricity in new ways. Volta’s work also inspired further advancements in electrical science and technology.

The unit of electrical potential, the “volt,” is named in honor of Alessandro Volta, recognizing his significant contributions to the field. His work not only advanced our understanding of electricity but also played a pivotal role in the subsequent inventions and discoveries that would transform the world. Volta’s voltaic pile was a testament to human ingenuity, marking a crucial step in the journey towards harnessing electricity as a practical and transformative force in modern society.

Michael Faraday: Electromagnetic Induction

In the 19th century, the field of electricity witnessed remarkable progress, with English scientist Michael Faraday at the forefront of these transformative developments. Faraday’s pioneering work on electromagnetic induction forever changed our understanding of electricity and its practical applications.

Electricity in the 19th Century

The 19th century marked a period of significant transformation in the realm of electricity. While Alessandro Volta’s invention of the voltaic pile had provided a means to generate a steady electrical current, the challenge remained to find new ways to harness this current and make it more accessible for practical use.

During this era, scientists and inventors were experimenting with various electrical devices, including batteries, telegraphs , and electrostatic generators. However, there was still no efficient method for generating electricity on a large scale or for transmitting it over long distances.

Michael Faraday: The Experimental Genius

Born in 1791 in London, England , Michael Faraday was a self-educated scientist with an insatiable curiosity about the natural world. His scientific journey began as an apprentice to a bookbinder, where he had the opportunity to read scientific texts. This exposure ignited his passion for science and led him to conduct his own experiments.

Faraday’s groundbreaking work on electricity and magnetism commenced in the early 19th century when he started working as an assistant to Sir Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution. Faraday’s meticulous experimentation and innovative thinking soon earned him recognition as a brilliant scientist.

Electromagnetic Induction: A Paradigm Shift

One of Faraday’s most significant contributions to the field of electricity was his discovery of electromagnetic induction. In the early 1830s, Faraday conducted a series of experiments that demonstrated a fundamental principle: electricity could be generated by moving a conductor through a magnetic field or by changing the magnetic field around a conductor.

This breakthrough discovery was revolutionary. Faraday’s experiments showed that a changing magnetic field induced an electromotive force (EMF) in a nearby conductor, resulting in the generation of an electrical current. This principle laid the foundation for the development of electric generators.

The Faraday Disc and Practical Applications

Faraday’s experiments with electromagnetic induction led to the creation of devices like the Faraday disc, which consisted of a rotating copper disc placed between the poles of a magnet. As the disc rotated, it generated a continuous electrical current.

The practical implications of Faraday’s work were profound. Electric generators, based on the principles of electromagnetic induction, became the cornerstone of power generation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They allowed for the efficient conversion of mechanical energy, such as that from steam engines or water turbines, into electrical energy. This innovation enabled the widespread distribution of electricity for lighting, industrial processes, and more.

Michael Faraday’s contributions to the field of electricity extended far beyond his own lifetime. His discoveries in electromagnetism not only revolutionized power generation but also paved the way for the development of electric motors and transformers. These inventions, which relied on Faraday’s principles, transformed industries, transportation, and daily life.

Faraday’s legacy endures not only in the scientific community but also in the very fabric of the modern world. His innovative spirit, commitment to experimentation, and keen insights into the relationship between electricity and magnetism continue to shape our understanding of the electromagnetic forces that power our technologically advanced society. Michael Faraday’s work is a testament to the profound impact that a single individual can have on the course of scientific progress.

Thomas Edison: Practical Applications

In the late 19th century, Thomas Edison emerged as a luminary in the field of electricity, making significant contributions that brought this revolutionary force into practical use. While he didn’t invent electricity, his work in electrical engineering and the creation of the incandescent light bulb in 1879 marked a turning point in the history of illumination and power distribution.

Electricity in the Late 19th Century

During the late 19th century, electricity was evolving from a scientific curiosity into a transformative force poised to change the way society lived and worked. Innovations in electrical engineering were paving the way for practical applications that would redefine modern life.

Electricity was already being used in various industries, including telegraphy and manufacturing, but its widespread application for lighting and powering homes and businesses was still in its infancy. Edison’s contributions would play a pivotal role in making electricity accessible to the masses.

Thomas Edison: The Inventor

Thomas Alva Edison, born in 1847 in Milan, Ohio, was a prolific inventor with a voracious appetite for innovation. Often referred to as the “Wizard of Menlo Park,” Edison held over 1,000 patents in his lifetime and is best known for his contributions to electrical engineering.

Edison’s work began in earnest when he established his famous Menlo Park laboratory in New Jersey. It was there that he embarked on a mission to develop practical electrical devices that would benefit society.

The Incandescent Light Bulb: Illuminating the World

One of Edison’s most iconic inventions was the incandescent lightbulb , which he successfully developed in 1879. Edison’s bulb used a filament made of carbonized bamboo, which could glow brightly when an electric current passed through it without burning out. This innovation marked a significant improvement over previous lighting technologies, such as gas lamps and arc lamps, which were less efficient and had limited lifespans.

The widespread adoption of Edison’s incandescent light bulbs transformed the way people lived and worked. It made it possible for homes, streets, and businesses to be lit with a reliable and long-lasting source of electric light. This development not only improved the quality of life but also paved the way for extended working hours and increased productivity.

Electric Power Distribution Systems

Edison’s impact on the practical application of electricity extended beyond the light bulb. He was also instrumental in the development of electric power distribution systems. Recognizing the need for a method to deliver electricity efficiently to homes and businesses, Edison worked on the creation of direct current (DC) electrical systems.

In the late 19th century, Edison’s DC systems were used to power various urban areas, including parts of New York City. However, DC had limitations when it came to transmitting electricity over long distances, which led to the “War of Currents” between Edison’s DC and Nikola Tesla’s alternating current (AC) systems.

Thomas Edison’s contributions to the practical application of electricity were transformative. His inventions, including the incandescent light bulb and electric power distribution systems, played a pivotal role in the electrification of society. They not only improved the quality of life but also spurred economic growth and technological progress.

While Edison’s work primarily focused on DC systems, which eventually gave way to the more efficient AC systems developed by Nikola Tesla , his innovations laid the groundwork for the modern electrical grid. Today, we continue to benefit from the pioneering spirit of Thomas Edison, who illuminated the world and paved the way for the electrified future we enjoy today.

Nikola Tesla: Alternating Current (AC)

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Nikola Tesla emerged as a brilliant inventor and visionary who would revolutionize the world of electricity. While he did not “invent” electricity itself, his pioneering work in alternating current (AC) power transmission systems reshaped the way electricity was generated, distributed, and utilized. Tesla’s contributions in the “Battle of Currents” with Edison not only highlighted the efficiency and practicality of AC but also laid the foundation for the modern electrical grid.

During the late 19th century, electricity was a dynamic field experiencing rapid growth and innovation. It was recognized as a powerful and transformative force with the potential to change every aspect of modern life. However, there were competing technologies and approaches to the generation and distribution of electricity.

Two primary systems vied for dominance: direct current (DC) championed by Thomas Edison and alternating current (AC) championed by Nikola Tesla. The choice between these systems had far-reaching implications for the practical applications of electricity.

Nikola Tesla: The Visionary Inventor

Nikola Tesla, born in 1856 in Smiljan (modern-day Croatia), was a brilliant inventor and electrical engineer known for his exceptional intelligence and innovative thinking. He immigrated to the United States in 1884, where he began working with Thomas Edison but soon found himself at odds with Edison’s preference for DC power.

Tesla believed that AC was the superior method for power transmission due to its ability to be transformed into different voltage levels using transformers, allowing for more efficient long-distance transmission. He began developing AC systems and patents, which would become the foundation of modern power distribution.

The “War of Currents”

The late 19th century witnessed a fierce rivalry between Edison and Tesla, known as the “War of Currents.” Edison advocated for DC systems, which were initially used to power cities like New York. However, DC had limitations when it came to long-distance transmission, as it required power stations at close intervals to maintain voltage.

Tesla, on the other hand, championed AC, which had the advantage of being easily transformable to high voltages for efficient transmission over long distances. In collaboration with George Westinghouse, Tesla’s AC system gained prominence and was adopted for the electrification of the Niagara Falls power plant. The success of this project marked a turning point in the battle for supremacy between DC and AC.

Nikola Tesla’s contributions to the widespread adoption of AC electricity were monumental. His innovations in AC power systems enabled the efficient transmission of electricity over long distances, revolutionizing power generation and distribution. The adoption of AC systems laid the foundation for the modern electrical grid, which powers homes, industries, and cities around the world.

Tesla’s work also extended beyond power generation and transmission. He made significant contributions to wireless communication, X-ray technology, and radio wave transmission. His visionary ideas continue to influence technological advancements today.

While Nikola Tesla did not “invent” electricity, his pioneering work in AC power transmission systems was a transformative force in the world of electrical engineering. His championing of AC over DC and the successful implementation of AC systems demonstrated the practicality and efficiency of alternating current, which remains the backbone of our modern electrical infrastructure. Tesla’s legacy as a visionary inventor and engineer continues to shape the way we harness and utilize electricity in the 21st century.

A Tapestry of Innovation

The invention of electricity is a story of remarkable individuals who pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding and engineering. From the early observations of static electricity to the development of practical electrical devices, each inventor added a thread to the tapestry of innovation. Electricity, once a mysterious force, is now an integral part of our lives, shaping the course of history and powering the future.

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History of electricity

by Chris Woodford . Last updated: December 3, 2021.

I f the future's electric, why isn't the past? Think a little bit about that simple-sounding question and you'll understand what science is all about and why it matters so much to humankind. Consider this: the ancient Greeks knew some basic things about electricity over 2500 years ago, yet they didn't have electric cookers or fridges , computers or vacuum cleaners . How come? Electricity is just the same as it was back then: it works in exactly the same way. What's changed is that we understand how it works now and we've figured out effective ways to use it for our own ends. In other words, science (how we understand the world) has gradually helped us to produce effective technology (how we harness scientific ideas for human benefit). The steadily advancing science of electricity has led to all kinds of electrical technologies that we can no longer live without. It's been an incredible achievement, but where and how did it begin? Let's take a closer look!

Photo: A statue of Thales of Miletus gripping the discovery for which he's best known: electricity. Photo of a statue by Louis St. Gaudens at Union Station, Washington, DC. Credit: Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, courtesy of Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division.

Ancient sparks

Way back in 600BCE, a Greek mathematician and philosopher named Thales (c.624–546BCE), who lived in the city of Miletus (now in Turkey), kicked off our story when he discovered the basic principle of static electricity (electricity that builds up in one place). As he rubbed a rod made of amber (a fossilized tree resin), he found he could use it to pick up other light objects, such as bits of feathers. (You've probably done a similar experiment rubbing a ruler or a balloon and using it to pick up pieces of paper.)

Before Thales came along, people might well have explained something like this as magic: ancient people didn't reason things out scientifically the way we do today. Their explanations were often a muddled mixture of magic, superstition, folklore (stories), and religion. [3] Thales is often called the world's first scientist, because he was one of the very first people who tried to find sensible, rational explanations for things. His explanations weren't always correct (he thought everything in the Universe was ultimately made of water and believed Earth was a flat disc), but they were the best logical deductions he could make from his observations of the world—and, in that sense, they were scientific. [4]

Photo: "Aristotle" pictured at the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. Credit: Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, courtesy of Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division.

The logical, scientific ways of doing things we rely on today were developed by later Greeks such as Aristotle (348–322BCE) and Archimedes (287–212BCE), who built on Thales' work, and Islamic scholars such as Alhazen (965–1040CE), who gave us the scientific method : coming up with a tentative explanation for something (a hypothesis), which is then tested through experiments to make a more robust explanation (a theory). Important though these people were, electricity (as we know it today) didn't figure in their thinking. They had little conception of how useful it could be—or what it would eventually lead to. They were more concerned with astronomy, mathematics, matter, and optics (how light works). Science might have been in its advent, but electricity was still just a "magical" curiosity—of very little practical use.

Positive and negative

Artwork: William Gilbert gave us our word for "electricity." Photograph courtesy of the Wellcome Collection published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

Incredibly, the scientific study of electricity didn't really advance any further for a full 2000 years after Thales' original discovery. But around 1600CE, Englishman William Gilbert (1544–1603), a physician to the English Queen Elizabeth I, started to probe it further. Gilbert was the person who coined the Latin term "electricus" (a word meaning "like amber," reflecting Thales' original discovery) and he believed electricity was caused by a fluid called "effluvium" that could move from place to place. This was an important insight because it was the first real suggestion that electricity could form what we now call a current, as well as remain static (in one place). Although Gilbert is much better known for his work on magnetism (he made the important deduction that Earth behaves like a giant magnet), and compared it with electricity, he didn't unite the two things in a single theory. If he'd done so, he probably would have gone down in history as one of the greatest physicists of all time. (As we'll see later, the person who finally achieved that, James Clerk Maxwell, is celebrated in exactly that way.)

Artwork: "Experiments and Observations Tending to Illustrate the Nature and Properties of Electricity": The cover of William Watson's book of electrical research.

It was now becoming clear that there was much more to electricity than the ancients had realized. In 1733/4, almost 150 years after Gilbert's death, a French physicist named Charles du Fay (1698–1739) made the next important breakthrough when his experiments revealed that static electricity could come in two different (opposite) flavors, which he named "vitreous" and "resinous." If you rubbed some objects, they gained one kind of electricity; if you rubbed others, they gained the opposite kind. Just as two "like" magnets (two north poles or two south poles) will repel, so two objects with "like charges" of electricity will also repel, while objects with unlike charges (like magnets of opposite poles) will attract. Although we now know this idea is correct, back in the 18th century, such a convoluted explanation sounded wrong to some people. Why should there be two kinds of electricity? Didn't it flout a basic scientific principle called Occam's razor —the idea that explanations should be as simple as possible? Englishman Sir William Watson (1715–1787) thought there was just one kind of electricity, with an ingenious explanation much more like our modern view: if we have too much electric charge, it seems like one kind of electricity; if too little, the other kind. Watson gave us the concept of electric circuits (closed paths around which charge flows) and made an important distinction between conductors and insulators. He was also one of the first to show that electricity could zip down very long wires, and his other experiments included passing electricity through lines of several people to give them surprising electric shocks.

Photo: A museum exhibit at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, illustrating Benjamin Franklin's highly dangerous attempt to catch electricity in a thunderstorm. Credit: Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, courtesy of Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division.

Two decades later, the question of how many kinds of electricity there were was effectively settled by Watson's contemporary, the American polymath Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790). Printer, journalist, inventor, statesman, scientist and more, he made all sorts of contributions to 18th-century American life. One of his most important achievements was confirming that there was a single "electric fluid," giving rise to the two "kinds" of electricity, which he named (as we still do today) "positive" and "negative." Like Watson, Franklin helped to tease out the mystery between static and current electricity. In his most famous (and indeed most dangerous) experiment, he flew a kite in a thunderstorm with a metal key attached to it by a long string. The basic idea was to catch electrical energy in the clouds (static electricity) from a lightning strike (current electricity), which he hoped would travel down the string to the key (more current electricity). Fortunately, lightning didn't strike the kite, which might well have killed Franklin, but he was able to detect charges and sparks, so confirming his ideas. DON'T try anything like this at home! [5]

“ And when the rain has wet the kite and twine, so that it can conduct the electric fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle. ” Benjamin Franklin, 1752 [12]

Franklin's electrical research marked a new milestone and hinted of much more to come, because it suggested electricity could be captured and stored as a form of energy. But electricity turned out to be even more useful when people discovered how it could exert a force. That was demonstrated by Frenchman Charles Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806), who charged up two small spheres with positive electricity and then measured the (repulsive) force as they pushed away from one another (repelling the same way as two magnets with like charges). Coulomb found that the force between charges depended not just on their size but also on the distance between them—something now known as Coulomb's law. (The basic unit of electric charge is also named the Coulomb in his honor.)

Electrical experiments were still hampered by the sheer difficulty of making and storing electricity, which, at this time, essentially relied on rubbing things to build up a good static charge. The study of electricity really advanced when a group of European scientists devised ways of storing electrical charges in glass jars with separate pieces of metal attached to the inside and outside surfaces—devices known as Leyden jars, which were the first effective capacitors (charge-storing devices). Developed independently in the 1740s by German Ewald Georg von Kleist and Pieter van Musschenbroek (of the city of Leyden, hence the name), they offered a much more convenient way of studying electricity.

Photo: Electrical research as it was in the early 18th century: A pair of glass Leyden jars (center) with their electrical connections to an electricity generating machine (right). Oil painting by Paul Lelong c.1820 courtesy of the Wellcome Collection published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

Animal magic

Ever since Thales' original discovery, scientists knew that static electricity could be made by rubbing things, but no-one knew exactly why this was so or where the electricity ultimately came from. In the late 18th century, Italian biologist Luigi Galvani (1737–1798) found he could make electricity in a completely different—and totally unexpected—way: using the legs of a dead frog. In his most famous experiment of all, when he pushed brass hooks into a frog's legs and hung them from an iron post, he saw the legs twitch from time to time as electricity flowed through them. That led him to think that living things like frogs contained something he called "animal electricity," which the metals were somehow releasing.

Artwork: Luigi Galvani believed he'd discovered "animal electricity" when he hung a frog's legs from a metal hook (left) and watched them twitching. Illustration courtesy of US Library of Congress .

In fact, as another Italian, physicist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827) soon discovered, Galvani had leaped to the wrong conclusion. The twitching frog was merely the current detector, not the source of the current. The important thing, as Volta discovered when he experimented with all sorts of different materials, was "the difference in the metals." What was really happening was that the two different metals, connected through the moist, fleshy, froggy tissue, were producing electricity chemically. Volta managed to recreate this effect with discs of two different metals, silver and zinc, separated by pieces of cardboard soaked in saltwater, and that was how he came to invent the world's first proper battery —an invention that revolutionized the history of electricity. It was a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can be rapidly turned into a practical technology—and one that allowed science to advance even further by making experiments easier. Even in Volta's time, the discovery was considered so impressive that the inventor was asked to demonstrate it before the great French emperor Napoleon I, who set up the Galvanism Prize in his honor. (His nephew, Napoleon III, set up a Volta Prize to reward great scientific discoveries some years later.)

Volta's invention also led to the development of a new branch of science called electrochemistry. One of its founding fathers, Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829), used a kind of electrochemistry known as electrolysis (effectively, making a battery work in reverse) to discover a number of chemical elements, including sodium and potassium, and later barium, calcium, magnesium, and strontium. Fittingly, he was awarded a Galvanism Prize for his work in 1807.

Magnetic attractions

There's electricity—and there's magnetism. That's how people like William Gilbert saw the world and it's still how we study it in schools to this day. The idea is not wrong, but it's a little bit misleading, because electricity and magnetism are essentially two different ways of looking at the same, bigger phenomenon. They're like two sides of the same coin or the front and back of a house. There had been various clues about the links between electricity and magnetism over the years. (In 1735, for example, the scientific journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London had carried "An account of an extraordinary effect of lightning in communicating magnetism" : according to a doctor in Yorkshire, a lightning bolt had struck the corner of a house where a large box of metal knives and forks were stored, scattering them around and, curiously, magnetizing them in the process.) But the definitive connection between electricity and magnetism was really first established by a series of revolutionary experiments that European scientists carried out in the 19th century.

The person who gets the credit for discovering what we now know as electromagnetism was Danishman Hans Christian Oersted (1777–1851), a physics professor in Copenhagen who had been inspired by Volta's invention of the battery. [6] Around 1820, during a student lecture, he just happened to place a compass near an electric wire and switched on the current. Incredibly, he noticed that the sudden current made the compass needle move, while reversing the current made the needle move the opposite way, suggesting the electricity flowing through the wire was making magnetism (because that's what a compass detects). [7] Though this was a major discovery, it wasn't the first proof of electromagnetism. About 20 years earlier, an Italian philosopher named Gian Domenico Romagnosi (1761–1835) had done a similar experiment, but few remember him today. [8]

Animation: Oersted's experiment: When he placed a compass near a wire and switched on the current, the compass needle moved one way; when he reversed the current in the wire, the needle moved the opposite way.

“ ...the magnetical effects are produced by the same powers as the electrical... all phenomena are produced by the same original power ” Hans Christian Oersted [9]

After learning of Oersted's work, Frenchman Andre-Marie Ampère (1775–1836) carried out another groundbreaking experiment with two wires placed side by side. When he switched on the current, he found the wires could push apart or pull together. One of his important conclusions was that a current-carrying wire makes a magnetic field at right angles, in concentric circles around the wire—rather like the ripples on a pond when you drop a stone into it.

This was all very interesting, but what use could it possibly be? Step forward English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday (1791–1867), originally an assistant to Sir Humphry Davy, who took "Ampère's beautiful theory" (as he called it) a stage further. [10] Ingeniously, he found he could make a wire rotate by passing electricity through it, because the flowing current created a magnetic field around it that would push against the field of a nearby magnet—and so invented a very primitive and not very practical electric motor . A few years later, he realized this invention would also work in reverse: if he moved a wire through a magnetic field, he could make electricity surge through it. That marked the invention of the electricity generator —a simple but revolutionary device that now provides virtually all the electricity we use to this day. Faraday, though he stood on the shoulders of Oersted, Ampère, and those who came before, arguably made the greatest contribution to our modern age of electric power.

Photo: Joseph Henry, America's answer to Michael Faraday, is honored by this statue at the US Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith. Credit: Library of Congress Series in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, courtesy of Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division.

Faraday wasn't the only pioneer of electromagnetism, however. Elsewhere in the UK, William Sturgeon (1783–1850), a brilliant but undeservedly forgotten inventor, was carrying out very similar experiments. In 1825, between Faraday's inventions of the electric motor and generator, Sturgeon built the first powerful electromagnet by coiling wire around an iron bar and sending a current through it. Over in the United States, in 1831, physicist Joseph Henry (1797–1879) made far bigger and better electromagnets (reputedly boosting the strength of the magnetic field by using wire insulated with cloth torn from his wife's undergarments) until he'd built a huge electromagnet that could lift a ton in weight. [11] Powerful electromagnets like this are still used in junkyards to this day to heave metal car bodies from one place to another. The following year, Sturgeon built the first practical, modern electric motor , using an ingenious device called a commutator that keeps the motor's axle rotating in the same direction.

A powerful force

Motors and generators—two parts of Faraday's very impressive legacy—are the twin bedrocks of our modern electric world. Generators make electric power, motors take that power and do useful things, from pushing electric cars down the road to sucking up dirt in your vacuum. But electrical energy doesn't come from thin air; as Volta showed, it doesn't even come magically from dead animals. If we want a certain amount of electrical energy, we have to produce it from at least as much of another kind of energy. That's a basic law of physics known as the law of conservation of energy , largely figured out by Scottish physicist James Prescott Joule (1818–1889) in the 1830s. Joule showed how different kinds of energy—including ordinary movement (mechanical energy), heat , and electricity—could be converted into one another. [13] What Joule's work means, essentially, is that if you want to run a huge city like New York or Sao Paulo off electricity, you'll need to harness huge amounts of some other kind of energy to do it. So, for example, you'll need a giant power station burning huge amounts of coal, hundreds of wind turbines, or a vast area of solar cells .

Photo: Power pioneer: Thomas Edison built the first practical power plants, which made electricity from coal using dynamos like this evolved by Michael Faraday's generator. Photo by H.C. White Co., courtesy of US Library of Congress .

Making enough energy to supply towns and cities with electricity became possible when a Belgian engineer named Zénobe Gramme (1826–1901) built the first large-scale, practical direct-current (DC) generators in the 1870s. In 1881, the world's first power plant opened in the small town of Godalming, England. The following year, Thomas Edison (1846–1931) built the first full-scale power plant at 257 Pearl Street in Manhattan, New York City. While Edison opted for plants that produced DC electricity, his former employee turned bitter rival Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) thought alternating current would work much better, since, among other things, it could be used to transmit power efficiently over very long distances. Tesla teamed up with engineer George Westinghouse (1846–1914), and the two launched a bitter battle with Edison—now known as the War of the Currents —until they'd firmly established AC as the victor. Today, though AC remains the heart of the electricity "grid" systems that provide much of the world's power, DC has again grown in importance thanks, in particular, to things like solar cells, which generate direct (rather than alternating) current. [14]

Waving hello

Photo: James Clerk Maxwell. Public domain photo by courtesy of Wikimedia Commons .

By the end of the 19th century, electricity and magnetism were happily married in motors and generators, but what was the real connection between them? Why did one produce the other? The mystery was largely solved in the second half of the 19th century by a brilliant Scottish physicist named James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879). In 1873, building on Michael Faraday's work, Maxwell published a complete theory of electromagnetism, neatly summarizing everything that was then known about electricity and magnetism in four apparently simple mathematical equations . Maxwell's theory explained how static or moving electric charges create electric fields around them, while magnetic poles (the ends of magnets) make magnetic fields. It also showed how electric fields can create magnetism and magnetic fields can make electricity, and tied electromagnetism together with light. This was one of the most fundamental and far-reaching theories of physics advanced so far—as radically important as Newton's work on gravity . Of course, electricity and magnetism were just the same as they had always been. What was different, following the work of James Clerk Maxwell, was a bold new understanding of how they worked together: a revolutionary new piece of science. And as the 19th century rolled on, technology advanced too: with the work of Edison, Tesla, and others, there was a growing understanding of how electromagnetism could put to good use as a practical way of storing and transmitting energy. All that was remarkable enough, but thanks to Maxwell's insights, linking electricity and magnetism to light waves, electromagnetism would soon change the world in another very important way: as a form of communication.

Photo: Champion of radio: Guglielmo Marconi didn't discover the basic science behind radio, but his amazing demonstrations of its usefulness transformed it into a winning technology. Color lithograph charicature of Marconi by Sir L. Ward (Spy), 1905. courtesy of the Wellcome Collection published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

The first inkling of an exciting new form of electromagnetism came the decade after Maxwell had died. Maxwell had realized that electromagnetism could travel in waves. In 1888, a German physicist named Heinrich Hertz (1857–1894) found he could make some of these waves, in which electrical and magnetic energy tangoed through the air at the speed of light. [15] Apart from confirming Maxwell's ideas, this scientific advance opened up another new bit of technology: a practical way for sending information wirelessly from one place to another. English physicist Sir Oliver Lodge (1851–1940), who had been carrying out similar research to Hertz, and Italian Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937), a brilliant showman with a gift for popularizing science, were among those who developed this technology. Originally called "ether waves," and now much better known to us as radio , it evolved into radar , television , satellite communication, remote control , Wi-Fi , and a whole variety of other things.

The source of electricity

Electricity has always been magical. Imagine how enthralled Thales must have been when he first saw static over 2500 years ago. Or what Heinrich Hertz felt like as he made the first radio waves in his laboratory in Karlsruhe in 1888. At the dawn of the 20th century, electricity seemed magical in all sorts of ways. Thomas Edison was building bold power plants and switching the world to the wonders of incandescent electric light . Marconi, meanwhile, was bouncing radio waves around the world. And there was a new kind of electrical magic as well: the dawning realization that electricity and magnetism originated from tiny particles inside atoms.

The idea that there must be a kind of "particle of electricity" had originally been put forward in 1874 by Irishman George Johnstone Stoney (1826–1911), who had previously studied the kinetic theory (how gas particles carried heat ). [16] Similar ideas were advanced in 1881 by German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz (1821–1894) and Dutchman named Hendrik Antoon Lorentz (1853–1928); together, these three developed the modern "particle" theory of electricity, in which static charges are seen as a build up of electric particles, while electric currents involve a flow of these particles from place to place. But what were the particles? The growing understanding of atoms and the world inside them, by Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937) and his colleagues, offered up a possible candidate in the shape of the electron, a particle Stoney named in 1891. Electrons were finally discovered in 1897 by British physicist J.J. Thomson (1856–1940), while he was playing around with a gadget called a cathode-ray tube, rather like an old-fashioned TV set. [17]

Animation: Solid-state physics explains that electric current is carried by electrons (blue) moving through materials.

During the 20th century, scientists came to understand not just how electrons power electricity and magnetism, but how they're involved in all kinds of other physical phenomena, including heat and light . Known as solid-state physics, these scientific ideas have led to some revolutionary electronic technologies, including the transistor , integrated circuits for computers, solar cells , and superconductors (materials with little or no electrical resistance).

Today, as the world grapples with pressing problems like air pollution and climate change , the need to switch from dirty fuels to cleaner forms of power has made electricity more important to us than ever. Back in Thales' time, electricity was just a take-it-or-leave-it, magical curiosity; today, it's central to our world and everything we do. The story of electricity runs, like a current, right through our past. Thanks to the brilliant work of these scientists and inventors, it also points to a bright and hopeful future.

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Static electricity

For younger readers

The Attractive Story of Magnetism with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Andrea Gianopoulos. Capstone Press, 2008/2019. A graphic book with a companion app.
Scientific Pathways: Electricity by Chris Woodford. Rosen, 2013: My quick introduction to electrical history. Previously published by Blackbirch in 2004 under the series title Routes of Science.
Charged Up: The Story of Electricity by Jackie Bailey and Matthew Lilly. Picture Window Books/A & C Black, 2004. A graphic-style history that will appeal to reluctant readers.
DK Biographies: Thomas Edison by Jan Adkins. DK, 2009. A well-illustrated, curriculum linked, short biography for younger readers aged 9–12.

For older readers

The Age of Edison: Electric Light and the Invention of Modern America by Ernest Freeberg. Penguin, 2013.
The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World by Randall E. Stross. Crown Publishing Group, 2008.

Scholarly articles

Bibliographical History Of Electricity And Magnetism by Paul Fleury Mottelay. Charles Griffin, 1922.
Origin of the Electrical Fluid Theories by Fernando Sanford, The Scientific Monthly, Vol 13, No 5, Nov 1921, pp.448–459.

Primary sources

Great Experiments in Physics: Firsthand Accounts from Galileo to Einstein by Morris H. Shamos. Dover, 1959/1987. A wonderful collection of original papers, including groundbreaking electromagnetic experiments by Hans Christian Oersted, Michael Faraday, James Joule, J.J. Thomson, and Robert Millikan.
Experiments and Observations on Electricity by Benjamin Franklin, The American Journal of Science and Arts, 1769.
On the Production of Currents and Sparks of Electricity from Magnetism by Joseph Henry, The American Journal of Science and Arts, 1832.
↑ Origin of the Electrical Fluid Theories by Fernando Sanford, The Scientific Monthly, Vol 13, No 5, Nov 1921, pp.448–459.
↑ Speculation and Experiment in the Background of Oersted's Discovery of Electromagnetism by Robert C. Stauffer, Isis, Vol 48 No 1, March 1957, pp.33–50.
↑ "Chapter 9: Hans Christian Oersted: Electromagnetism" in Great Experiments in Physics: Firsthand Accounts from Galileo to Einstein by Morris H. Shamos. Dover, 1959/1987, p.121.
↑ Speculation and Experiment in the Background of Oersted's Discovery of Electromagnetism by Robert C. Stauffer, Isis, Vol 48 No 1, March 1957, p.33.
↑ "Beautiful theory": "Chapter 10: Michael Faraday: Electromagnetic Induction and Laws of Electrolysis" in Great Experiments in Physics: Firsthand Accounts from Galileo to Einstein by Morris H. Shamos. Dover, 1959/1987, p.131.
↑ Henry discusses this in On the Production of Currents and Sparks of Electricity from Magnetism by Joseph Henry, The American Journal of Science and Arts, 1832.
↑ Franklin describes the kite experiment in "Letter XI," Experiments and Observations on Electricity by Benjamin Franklin, The American Journal of Science and Arts, 1769, p.111.
↑ "Chapter 12: James Joule: The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat" in Great Experiments in Physics: Firsthand Accounts from Galileo to Einstein by Morris H. Shamos. Dover, 1959/1987, p.166.
↑ Some reasons for DC's resurgence are set out in Edison's Final Revenge: The system of DC power generation and local distribution that the great inventor championed is set for a comeback by David Schneider, American Scientist, Vol 96 No 2, March–April 2008, pp.107–108.
↑ "Chapter 13: Heinrich Hertz: Electromagnetic waves" in Great Experiments in Physics: Firsthand Accounts from Galileo to Einstein by Morris H. Shamos. Dover, 1959/1987, p.184.
↑ " George Johnstone Stoney, F.R.S., and the Concept of the Electron by J. G. O'Hara, Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, Vol 29, No 2, March 1975, pp.265–276.
↑ "Chapter 16: J.J. Thomson: The Electron" in Great Experiments in Physics: Firsthand Accounts from Galileo to Einstein by Morris H. Shamos. Dover, 1959/1987, p.216.

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Nikola Tesla

Serbian American scientist Nikola Tesla invented the Tesla coil and alternating-current (AC) electricity, in addition to discovering the rotating magnetic field.

Quick Facts

When was nikola tesla born, nikola tesla and thomas edison, solo venture, how did nikola tesla die, legacy: movies, electric car, and wardenclyffe tower renovation, who was nikola tesla.

Engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla designed the alternating-current (AC) electric system, which is the predominant electrical system used across the world today. He also created the “Tesla coil” that is still used in radio technology. Born in modern-day Croatia, Tesla immigrated to the United States in 1884 and briefly worked with Thomas Edison before the two parted ways. The Serbian American sold several patent rights, including those to his AC machinery, to George Westinghouse . Tesla died at age 86 in January 1943, but his legacy lives on through his inventions and the electric car company Tesla that’s named in his honor.

FULL NAME: Nikola Tesla BORN: July 10, 1856 DIED: January 7, 1943 BIRTHPLACE: Smiljan, Croatia ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in the Austrian Empire town of Smiljan that is now part of Croatia.

He was one of five children, including siblings Dane, Angelina, Milka, and Marica. Nikola’s interest in electrical invention was spurred by his mother, Djuka Mandic, who invented small household appliances in her spare time while her son was growing up.

Tesla’s father, Milutin Tesla, was a Serbian orthodox priest and a writer, and he pushed for his son to join the priesthood. But Nikola’s interests lay squarely in the sciences.

Tesla received quite a bit of education. He studied at the Realschule, Karlstadt (later renamed the Johann-Rudolph-Glauber Realschule Karlstadt) in Germany; the Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria; and the University of Prague during the 1870s.

After university, Tesla moved to Budapest, Hungary, where for a time he worked at the Central Telephone Exchange. It was while in Budapest that the idea for the induction motor first came to Tesla, but after several years of trying to gain interest in his invention, at age 28, Tesla decided to leave Europe for America.

In 1884, Tesla arrived in the United States with little more than the clothes on his back and a letter of introduction to famed inventor and business mogul Thomas Edison , whose DC-based electrical works were fast becoming the standard in the country. Edison hired Tesla, and the two men were soon working tirelessly alongside each other, making improvements to Edison’s inventions.

Several months later, the two parted ways due to a conflicting business-scientific relationship , attributed by historians to their incredibly different personalities. While Edison was a power figure who focused on marketing and financial success, Tesla was commercially out-of-touch and somewhat vulnerable. Their feud would continue to affect Tesla’s career.

In 1885, Tesla received funding for the Tesla Electric Light Company and was tasked by his investors to develop improved arc lighting. After successfully doing so, however, Tesla was forced out of the venture and, for a time, had to work as a manual laborer in order to survive. His luck changed two years later when he received funding for his new Tesla Electric Company.

nikola tesla looks at a gadget he holds in his hands, he stands in a suit in a room with framed drawings on the wall, there is a cabinet with lots of machinery on top of it

Throughout his career, Tesla discovered, designed, and developed ideas for a number of important inventions—most of which were officially patented by other inventors—including dynamos (electrical generators similar to batteries) and the induction motor.

He was also a pioneer in the discovery of radar technology, X-ray technology, remote control, and the rotating magnetic field—the basis of most AC machinery. Tesla is most well-known for his contributions in AC electricity and for the Tesla coil.

AC Electrical System

Tesla designed the alternating-current (AC) electrical system, which quickly became the preeminent power system of the 20 th century and has remained the worldwide standard ever since. In 1887, Tesla found funding for his new Tesla Electric Company, and by the end of the year, he had successfully filed several patents for AC-based inventions.

Tesla’s AC system soon caught the attention of American engineer and businessman George Westinghouse , who was seeking a solution to supplying the nation with long-distance power. Convinced that Tesla’s inventions would help him achieve this, in 1888, he purchased his patents for $60,000 in cash and stock in the Westinghouse Corporation.

As interest in an AC system grew, Tesla and Westinghouse were put in direct competition with Thomas Edison , who was intent on selling his direct-current (DC) system to the nation. A negative press campaign was soon waged by Edison, in an attempt to undermine interest in AC power.

Unfortunately for Edison, the Westinghouse Corporation was chosen to supply the lighting at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and Tesla conducted demonstrations of his AC system there.

Hydroelectric Power Plant

In 1895, Tesla designed what was among the first AC hydroelectric power plants in the United States, at Niagara Falls. The following year, it was used to power the city of Buffalo, New York—a feat that was highly publicized throughout the world and helped further AC electricity’s path to becoming the world’s power system.

a large piece of machine with rings around a long tube sits in a room

In the late 19 th century, Tesla patented the Tesla coil, which laid the foundation for wireless technologies and is still used in radio technology today. The heart of an electrical circuit, the Tesla coil is an inductor used in many early radio transmission antennas.

The coil works with a capacitor to resonate current and voltage from a power source across the circuit. Tesla used his coil to study fluorescence, x-rays, radio, wireless power, and electromagnetism in the earth and its atmosphere.

Wireless Power and Wardenclyffe Tower

Having become obsessed with the wireless transmission of energy, around 1900, Tesla set to work on his boldest project yet: to build a global, wireless communication system transmitted through a large electrical tower that would enable information sharing and provide free energy throughout the world.

a large metal tower with a bulbous top stands outside, a building and trees are in the background

With funding from a group of investors that included financial giant J. P. Morgan , Tesla began work on the free energy project in earnest in 1901. He designed and built a lab with a power plant and a massive transmission tower on a site on Long Island, New York, that became known as Wardenclyffe.

However, doubts arose among his investors about the plausibility of Tesla’s system. As his rival, Guglielmo Marconi —with the financial support of Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison —continued to make great advances with his own radio technologies, Tesla had no choice but to abandon the project.

The Wardenclyffe staff was laid off in 1906, and by 1915, the site had fallen into foreclosure. Two years later, Tesla declared bankruptcy, and the tower was dismantled and sold for scrap to help pay the debts he had accrued.

After suffering a nervous breakdown following the closure of his wireless power project, Tesla eventually returned to work, primarily as a consultant. But as time went on, his ideas became progressively more outlandish and impractical. He grew increasingly eccentric, devoting much of his time to the care of wild pigeons in the parks of New York City . Tesla even drew the attention of the FBI with his talk of building a powerful “death ray,” which had received some interest from the Soviet Union during World War II.

Poor and reclusive, Tesla died of coronary thrombosis on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86 in New York City, where he had lived for nearly 60 years.

The legacy of Tesla’s work lives on to this day. In 1994, a street sign identifying “Nikola Tesla Corner” was installed near the site of his former New York City laboratory, at the intersection of 40 th Street and 6 th Avenue.

Several movies have highlighted Tesla’s life and famous works, most notably:

The Secret of Nikola Tesla , a 1980 biographical film starring Orson Welles as J. P. Morgan .
Nikola Tesla, The Genius Who Lit the World , a 1994 documentary produced by the Tesla Memorial Society and the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Prestige , a 2006 fictional film about two magicians directed by Christopher Nolan , with rock star David Bowie portraying Tesla.

In 2003, a group of engineers founded Tesla Motors, a car company named after Tesla dedicated to building the first fully electric-powered car. Entrepreneur and engineer Elon Musk contributed over $30 million to Tesla in 2004 and serves as the company’s co-founder and CEO.

Tesla Motors unveiled its first electric car, the Roadster, in 2008. A high-performance sports vehicle, the Roadster helped changed the perception of what electric cars could be. In 2014, Tesla launched the Model S, a lower-priced model that, in 2017, set the MotorTrend world record for 0 to 60 miles per hour acceleration at 2.28 seconds. The company’s designs showed that an electric car could have the same performance as gasoline-powered sports car brands like Porsche and Lamborghini.

Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe

Since Tesla’s original forfeiture of his free energy project, ownership of the Wardenclyffe property has passed through numerous hands. Several attempts have been made to preserve it, but efforts to declare it a national historic site failed in 1967, 1976, and 1994.

Then, in 2008, a group called the Tesla Science Center (TSC) was formed with the intention of purchasing the property and turning it into a museum dedicated to the inventor’s work. In 2009, the Wardenclyffe site went on the market for nearly $1.6 million, and for the next several years, the TSC worked diligently to raise funds for its purchase. In 2012, public interest in the project peaked when Matthew Inman of TheOatmeal.com collaborated with the TSC in an Internet fundraising effort, ultimately receiving enough contributions to acquire the site in May 2013.

Wardenclyffe Tower finally joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. Work on its restoration is still in progress. A $20 million redevelopment broke ground in April 2023, but those efforts were complicated by large fire that November. The site is closed to the public “for the foreseeable future” for reasons of safety and preservation, according to the Tesla Science Center.

Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more.
I do not think you can name many great inventions that have been made by married men.
The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Invention — History of Electricity: How the Light Bulb Changed the World

History of Electricity: How The Light Bulb Changed The World

Categories: Invention Light

About this sample

Words: 1040 |

Published: Nov 16, 2018

Words: 1040 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Works Cited

A Brief History of Lighting. (n.d.). Edison Tech Center.
Gas lighting. (n.d.). Environmental Health and Safety.
Kalinowski, A. (n.d.). The impact of the light bulb on society. Small Business. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/impact-light-bulb-society-4933.html
Palermo, E. (2017, October 20). How Edison invented the light bulb — and lots of myths about himself. Live Science.
The Practical Incandescent Light Bulb. (n.d.). The Franklin Institute. https://www.fi.edu/history-resources/practical-incandescent-light-bulb
Adams, S. (2018, February 9). How LED light bulbs work. Digital Trends.
Edison, T. A. (1879). United States Patent Office Patent No. 223,898: Electric Lamp.
Jakle, J. A. (1999). The history of the American streetlight, 1789-1975. University of Texas Press.
Schivelbusch, W. (1988). Disenchanted night: The industrialization of light in the nineteenth century. University of California Press.
Wilson, R. (2019, March 7). 15 innovations that shaped the modern world. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190306-15-innovations-that-shaped-the-modern-world

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Why Electricity Is The Greatest Invention

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: May 12, 2023 - Last updated: July 1, 2023

Categories Society

Have you ever thought about how different life would be without electricity?

From powering our homes and workplaces to keeping our devices charged and running smoothly, electricity is essential to our daily lives.

This article will explore why electricity is considered the greatest invention in human history.

Imagine a World Without Electricity

Imagine a world without electricity – no lights to guide you at night, no smartphones or computers to keep you connected, and no modern transportation to take you places. Sounds limiting.

Well, that’s because electricity has become the lifeblood of our society, powering various aspects of our lives and continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation. You may not realize it as you flick a switch or charge your phone, but this invisible force deserves recognition for being one of the greatest inventions in human history.

Now picture yourself with boundless access to information and opportunities for self-improvement through electricity-powered technology. It allows you to explore new horizons personally and professionally and enables communities worldwide to thrive by breaking down barriers and facilitating progress.

Revolutionizing Communication and Connectivity

It’s no secret that this groundbreaking innovation has utterly transformed communication and connectivity.

Electricity has enabled global networking, allowing people from all corners of the world to connect instantly and easily maintain digital relationships.

The rise of the internet, social media platforms, and smartphones can all be attributed to electricity’s power in revolutionizing how we interact.

This incredible shift has made it easier for people to stay connected and opened up new possibilities for collaboration, bridging cultures and nations like never before.

As you harness the power of electricity in your daily life, you’re actively participating in a movement towards greater freedom – the freedom to express yourself without limitations, share your ideas with others across continents and explore new perspectives through instantaneous exchanges.

By embracing these digital connections powered by electricity, you can break down barriers previously set by geographical boundaries or cultural differences.

You can form friendships with people thousands of miles away just as quickly as if they were next-door neighbors.

Ultimately, electricity’s impact on communication and connectivity offers a sense of liberation that satisfies your subconscious desire for freedom while keeping you engaged in an ever-evolving world filled with endless possibilities.

Advancements in Healthcare and Medicine

You’ve likely marveled at the countless medical breakthroughs made possible by harnessing the power of electrons, like a symphony conductor expertly leading an orchestra to create beautiful music.

Electricity has been instrumental in shaping modern healthcare and medicine, allowing for diagnostic advancements that have saved lives and enabled us to understand our bodies better than ever before.

From imaging technologies such as X-rays and MRIs to precise surgical tools, electricity plays a critical role in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in medicine.

Imaging Technologies : Electricity powers advanced imaging machines like X-ray, CT scans, and MRI scanners that provide doctors with detailed images of our internal organs and structures. These non-invasive procedures help doctors make accurate diagnoses without resorting to invasive surgeries.
Electrical Medical Devices : Many life-saving devices rely on electricity for their operation – pacemakers, defibrillators, ventilators, and dialysis machines. These innovations have revolutionized treatments for patients with chronic conditions or those requiring emergency care.
Surgical Advancements : The advent of electrically powered surgical instruments has given surgeons unprecedented precision when operating on delicate tissues or hard-to-reach areas within the body. These advances have resulted in quicker recovery and reduced complications from laser surgery to robotic-assisted procedures.
Telemedicine : With the rise of digital communication technologies powered by electricity, remote consultations with healthcare professionals are now possible – increasing accessibility for patients who cannot travel or live in rural areas.

As you can see from these examples, electricity’s impact on healthcare and medicine cannot be overstated. Its influence has led to significant improvements in diagnostics and transformed how we treat illnesses – ultimately granting us more freedom over our health choices and fostering a brighter future where we can enjoy longer-lasting wellness unburdened by limitations once thought insurmountable.

Transforming Transportation and Mobility

There’s no denying that some truly mind-blowing advancements in transportation have revolutionized our ability to move around and explore the world, all thanks to the incredible power of electrons.

Electric vehicles, for example, have not only become more efficient and affordable, but they’re also paving the way for sustainable travel. Imagine a future where cities are filled with zero-emission vehicles that reduce air pollution and contribute to a cleaner environment – all while making your daily commute a breeze.

With electric trains, buses, bikes, and even scooters rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, it’s evident that electricity-powered transportation is here to stay.

This electrifying transformation doesn’t stop there; consider how electricity has also changed the aviation and shipping industries! The emergence of electric planes on the horizon promises reduced emissions and noise pollution levels; soon enough, we can traverse great distances without leaving an enormous carbon footprint behind.

Meanwhile, innovative technologies like electric ferries redefine maritime travel by offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fuel sources.

As battery technology continues to improve and charging infrastructure expands globally, we’re inching closer toward a world where mobility is as environmentally responsible as it is efficient – giving you the freedom you crave without compromising Mother Earth’s well-being.

Driving Technological Innovations

You’d be amazed at how technological innovations constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible while making our lives easier and more connected.

Electricity has been a critical driver for this progress, opening the door to sustainable energy solutions and industrial automation that have revolutionized industries across the globe. The ability to harness electrical power has enabled us to create renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines, minimizing our reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a cleaner environment for future generations. Furthermore, electricity powers our factories through advanced robotics and automated systems, increasing efficiency while reducing human error.

Beyond these remarkable achievements in sustainability and productivity, electricity has ignited countless other technological advancements that enrich our daily lives. From smartphones keeping us connected with loved ones to medical devices saving lives in hospitals worldwide, electricity is essential to modern life.

It continues to fuel groundbreaking research in fields like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and space exploration – enabling us to push past existing limitations and explore new frontiers.

So take a moment to appreciate just how transformative electricity truly is; without it, many of today’s most cherished conveniences would remain figments of our imagination.

Impact on Education and Knowledge Access

Imagine a world without the magic of Google at your fingertips or the ability to binge-watch your favorite educational documentaries on Netflix – it’s genuinely a dark thought.

Electricity has played an enormous role in bridging the digital divide and boosting global literacy. Before electricity, access to knowledge was primarily limited to those who could afford books or had the privilege of attending schools. Today, with electricity powering our digital devices and internet connections, information is available to almost anyone who seeks it. This increased accessibility has significantly empowered individuals from various backgrounds and circumstances.

Electricity’s impact on education goes far beyond making content more accessible; it also enhances teaching methods and helps create engaging learning environments. Interactive whiteboards, virtual labs, and online classrooms all use electric power to function effectively. These tools have revolutionized traditional teaching strategies by fostering collaboration among students and teachers across geographical boundaries and catering to different learning styles.

Furthermore, electricity allows educators to track student progress efficiently through data analysis software that can identify areas for improvement and suggest personalized solutions for each learner’s needs. In short, electricity has democratized access to knowledge and raised the quality of education worldwide, igniting a brighter future for us all.

In conclusion, you can’t imagine a world without electricity; it’s the lifeblood of modern society. Your every whim and desire are powered by this magical force that makes life infinitely more comfortable, connected, and dynamic.

Without a doubt, electricity has become the ultimate superhero of inventions. It swoops in to save you from darkness and boredom while propelling humanity into a future filled with endless possibilities. So, embrace its power and be forever grateful for this game-changing discovery!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is electricity.

Electricity is a form of energy that results from the flow of electric charge.

Who discovered electricity?

While no one is credited with discovering electricity, Benjamin Franklin is often considered the father of electricity due to his famous kite experiment.

Why is electricity considered the most remarkable invention?

Electricity is the most remarkable invention because it has transformed every aspect of our daily lives. Electricity has revolutionized the world, from powering our homes and workplaces to improving communication and transportation.

How has electricity impacted society?

Electricity has had a profound impact on society. It has led to technological advancements, improved health, and hygiene, made global communication possible, and increased economic growth.

What are some benefits of electricity?

Some benefits of electricity include increased productivity, improved quality of life, and enhanced communication and entertainment.

What would the world look like without electricity?

Without electricity, the world would look vastly different. Most industries would grind to a halt, communication would be limited, and healthcare would be severely impacted.

Are there any downsides to relying on electricity as a society?

While the benefits of electricity are numerous, there are also downsides to relying on it as a society. These include environmental impacts from power generation, potential security risks from cyber attacks, and the potential for power outages and disruptions.

What is the future of electricity?

The future of electricity is focused on sustainability and renewable energy sources. This includes the development of solar, wind, and hydropower, as well as improvements in energy storage technology.

How has electricity impacted the environment?

Electricity production has significantly impacted the environment, particularly greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. However, developing renewable energy sources offers a potential solution to these problems.

Can we ever honestly imagine life without electricity?

While it is difficult to imagine life without electricity, it is essential to remember that it is a relatively recent invention. Humans lived for thousands of years without it, and it is possible to adapt to a world without it if necessary. However, the benefits of electricity make it highly unlikely that we will ever abandon it altogether.

Essay on Electricity

Introduction.

Imagine if we had to endure the unbearable heat during the summers or live in darkness during the night. We can’t think of a life without a fan or light, can we? But have you wondered what makes them work? Electricity is the beautiful phenomenon that is behind the running of various appliances today. We cannot underestimate the power of electricity in our lives, and this long essay on electricity will help your kids to be familiar with its uses and benefits.

Importance of Electricity

There is hardly anything that does not work on electricity. Whether we need to watch TV or run a grinder, electricity is an important component that makes them function. This long essay on electricity shows how electricity makes our lives easier and more comfortable. Earlier, if we relied on handmade fans to keep ourselves cool, we now have to simply tap on the switch to run our electric fans, pedestal fans or ceiling fans. Similarly, the old kerosene lamps are now replaced by modern lights and tubes that fill the whole place with light. In this manner, electricity has given us many comforts, and it is hard for us to imagine going back to living without it.

Nearly every aspect of human life has benefited from using electricity. Apart from simplifying our lives at home by inventing electrical appliances, electricity has enabled easy communication through the introduction of telephones and fax machines. Besides, its use is found in many industries and factories to run large machines. If electric trains took the place of steam engines in the transportation industry, new devices and instruments, like X-ray machines, scanning devices, ECG and such, have changed the way the medical industry operates. Thus, we can say that the unseen presence of electricity has filled our lives with hope and joy.

Ways to Save Electricity

We all know that we get electricity from coal and water. Coal and petroleum are non-renewable resources, and there is a limit to using them, as it would take enormous time to replenish these resources. Thus, it is important to use electricity productively. Give your children this free printable essay on electricity from BYJU’S so that they understand its significance.

In this save electricity essay, there are some effective tips to conserve energy. We often tend to switch on the lights even in broad daylight or use a fan when it is extremely cold. Such unnecessary use of electricity must be avoided as you can open your windows to let in light and wind. Limit the charging of your phones and laptops, and remember to unplug them after it is fully charged. Also, try to spend maximum time outdoors so that you can restrict the time of watching TV. Thus, by taking such simple measures, we can save electricity.

Found this essay interesting? You can access more essays similar to the essay on electricity, along with a range of kid-friendly learning resources, on BYJU’S website.