Beatrice Lang
Michael Faraday, born in 1791, was an English chemist and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of electricity and electrochemistry. Despite receiving little formal education, he became one of the most influential scientists in history. Faraday's interest in science began when he worked as an apprentice to a bookbinder, allowing him to read various books, including those on electricity and chemistry. He later attended lectures by Sir Humphry Davy, who hired him as his assistant, marking the beginning of Faraday's scientific journey. He went on to make groundbreaking discoveries, such as electromagnetic induction, the electric motor, and the laws of electrolysis, shaping the foundation of modern electromagnetic technology and our understanding of electricity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 September 1791 |
| Place of birth | Newington, Surrey, now a part of South London |
| Education | Self-taught, little formal education |
| Apprenticeship | Bookbinding |
| Career | Chemist, Physicist |
| Notable works | Discovered benzene, liquefied gases, invented early Bunsen burner, contributed to electrochemistry, electromagnetism, electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic rotation, electric motor, dynamo, electrolysis, Faraday cage, Faraday flashlight |
| Awards and honours | Featured in Scientific Achievements issue, Faraday Institution named after him |
| Date of death | 25 August 1867 |
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What You'll Learn
Faraday's work in electrochemistry
Michael Faraday's work in electrochemistry is renowned and has led to many discoveries in the field of electromagnetism. Faraday's electrochemical research, published in 1833, led to his two laws of electrolysis, which are quantitative relationships between the substance deposited at electrodes and the quantity of electric charge passed.
Faraday's First Law of Electrolysis states that the mass of a substance deposited or liberated at an electrode is directly proportional to the amount of charge passed through the electrolytic solution. This can be expressed mathematically as: m ∝ Q, where m is the mass and Q is the charge. The charge passed is calculated as the product of the current and the time for which it is passed through the solution (Q = I x t).
Faraday's Second Law of Electrolysis states that when the same amount of charge is passed through different electrolytes, the masses of the substances deposited or liberated are directly proportional to their respective chemical equivalent or equivalent weight. This can be expressed mathematically as: m = Q x E, where E is the equivalent weight of the substance, calculated as the ratio of atomic weight and valency (E = Atomic weight/valency).
Faraday's laws of electrolysis have many applications, including in the process of electrolysis of molten salt, which is used in metal extraction, energy storage, and industrial synthesis. Electrolysis is a process where an electric current stimulates a non-spontaneous chemical reaction, causing a flow of ions through the passage of current. This process can also be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gas, with the use of an electrolyzer containing two electrodes submerged in a water-based electrolyte solution.
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Faraday's discovery of electromagnetic induction
Michael Faraday, an English chemist and physicist, made several groundbreaking discoveries in the field of electromagnetism. Born in 1791, Faraday received little formal education, yet he became one of the most influential scientists in history.
Faraday's work on electromagnetic induction is particularly notable. In 1831, Faraday began a series of experiments that led him to discover electromagnetic induction. He found that moving a magnet through a loop of wire would electrify the wire, producing a steady electric current. This phenomenon, later known as the Faraday effect, provided the first evidence of a relationship between light and electromagnetism.
Faraday's experiments with electromagnetic induction built upon earlier work by other scientists. In 1824, the French physicist François Arago demonstrated that a spinning copper disc caused a suspended magnetic needle to rotate, even without an external electric current. This intrigued Faraday, who set out to explain the phenomenon. He conducted a series of experiments, discovering what he called electromagnetic rotation, which was the continuous circular motion resulting from the circular magnetic force around a wire.
Faraday's work on electromagnetic induction culminated in his 1832 paper, "Experimental Researches in Electricity." This paper is considered a landmark in the history of science, as it transformed our understanding of the relationship between magnetism and electricity. Faraday's discovery of electromagnetic induction laid the foundation for modern electromagnetic technology and led to the development of electric motors, generators, and transformers.
Faraday's law of induction, which emerged from his work on electromagnetic induction, is a fundamental principle in physics. It serves as the operating principle for various electrical motors and generators, and it inspired James Clerk Maxwell to create the first unified field theory in physics, mathematically modelling Faraday's discoveries.
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Faraday's work with electromagnetism
Michael Faraday is known for his work in electricity and electrochemistry. He was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism. Faraday received little formal education but became one of the most influential scientists in history.
Faraday's work in electromagnetism began in 1821 when he built two devices to produce what he called "electromagnetic rotation". One of these, now known as the homopolar motor, caused a continuous circular motion that was caused by the circular magnetic force around a wire that extended into a pool of mercury. These experiments formed the foundation of modern electromagnetic technology.
Faraday's work in electromagnetism also included his discovery of the laws of electrolysis. He was the first to liquefy a "permanent" gas, such as chlorine and carbon dioxide, and discovered chemical substances such as benzene. Faraday also determined the composition of chlorine clathrate hydrate.
In 1831, Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction. He wrapped two insulated coils of wire around an iron ring and found that when he passed a current through one coil, a momentary current was induced in the other coil. This discovery led to his formulation of Faraday's Law of Induction, which states that an electromotive force (EMF) is induced when the magnetic flux across the coil changes over time.
Faraday's work in electromagnetism also included his investigation of the relationship between light and magnetism. He demonstrated that magnetism could affect rays of light and that there was an underlying relationship between the two phenomena.
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Faraday's laws of electrolysis
Faraday's First Law of Electrolysis states that "The mass of a substance deposited at any electrode is directly proportional to the amount of charge passed." This law can be expressed mathematically, where Z is the proportionality constant, also called the electrochemical equivalent.
Faraday's Second Law of Electrolysis states that "The mass of a substance deposited at any electrode on passing a certain amount of charge is directly proportional to its chemical equivalent weight." This law also holds that "when the same quantity of electricity is passed through several electrolytes, the mass of the substances deposited are proportional to their respective chemical equivalent or equivalent weight."
The laws also define an electrolytic system as one characterized by Faraday's law, where a current creating a reaction at an electrode is called a faradaic current. The Faraday constant, F, is a critical concept in these laws, representing the charge of one mole of electrons, which is approximately 6.02 x 10^23 electric charge carriers.
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Faraday's influence on electric motor technology
Michael Faraday, an English chemist and physicist, made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of electricity and electromagnetism. Despite receiving little formal education, he became one of the most influential scientists in history. Faraday's work on electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and electrolysis laid the foundation for modern electric motor technology.
In 1821, Faraday set out to understand and expand upon the work of Hans Christian Ørsted and André-Marie Ampère, who had discovered that an electric current passing through a wire generates a magnetic field around it. Ørsted's work challenged the prevailing belief that electricity and magnetism were distinct phenomena. Building on these discoveries, Faraday conducted his own experiments, creating what he called "electromagnetic rotation".
Faraday's experiments resulted in the creation of two devices. One of these, now known as the homopolar motor, consisted of a stiff wire suspended in a container of mercury, a metal liquid at room temperature, with a permanent bar magnet at its centre. When connected to a battery, the wire would rotate around the magnet due to the interaction of the magnetic fields. This was the first device to produce a continuous circular motion from electromagnetic forces, and it formed the basis of modern electric motors.
Faraday's work on electromagnetic rotation apparatus (motor) in 1822 is particularly notable. This apparatus, with its simple design, was the first to successfully transform electrical energy into mechanical energy, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of electric motor technology.
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Frequently asked questions
Faraday was born into a poor family in England in 1791 and had little formal education. He began working as an errand boy for a bookbinder at the age of 13, where he developed a love of science by reading the books he was binding. He became interested in the concept of energy, specifically force, and his early reading and experiments with the idea of force laid the foundation for his important discoveries in electricity later in life.
Faraday is best known for his work on electricity and electrochemistry. He discovered the two laws of electrolysis and the principles of electromagnetic induction, and he invented the first electric motor and dynamo. He also discovered and named diamagnetism, the peculiar behaviour of certain substances in strong magnetic fields, and demonstrated the relation between electricity and chemical bonding.
Faraday's discoveries had a profound impact on the world, revolutionizing physics and laying the foundation for modern electromagnetic technology. His work on electromagnetic induction, in particular, is considered a paradigm-shifting publication that transformed our world. His inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices formed the foundation of electric motor technology, and he is known as the father of the electric motor, electric generator, electric transformer, and electrolysis.
