Beatrice Lang
The discovery of electricity was not the work of a single person, but rather the culmination of centuries of research by numerous scientists and inventors. While Benjamin Franklin is often credited with discovering electricity in 1752 through his famous kite experiment, the study of electrical phenomena dates back to ancient times, with people then already aware of the effects of electric shocks from fish. Over the centuries, many scientists built upon each other's work, gradually advancing our understanding of electricity and leading to its modern applications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First person to discover electricity | Benjamin Franklin |
| Date of discovery | 1752 |
| Discovery | Franklin attached a wire to a kite in a thunderstorm, which showed that lightning consists of electricity |
| Other contributors | William Gilbert, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Browne, Otto von Guericke, Robert Boyle, Stephen Gray, Isaac Newton, Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, Heinrich Hertz, Albert Einstein, Alessandro Volta, Thomas Alva Edison, Alexander Graham Bell |
| Other contributions | Gilbert distinguished between the lodestone effect and static electricity; Thomas Edison invented the electric lightbulb; Nikola Tesla discovered the electricity we use today; Thomas Browne wrote about electricity; Otto von Guericke produced static electricity; Stephen Gray discovered the difference between electrical insulators and conductors; Isaac Newton made early investigations into electricity; Charles-Augustin de Coulomb investigated the effects of charge; Heinrich Hertz discovered that electrodes illuminated with UV light create electric sparks; Albert Einstein's work led to the quantum revolution; Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile; Thomas Alva Edison's incandescent lightbulb illuminated streets and houses; Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment
While Benjamin Franklin is often credited with discovering electricity, this is not entirely accurate. In fact, the study of electrical phenomena dates back to ancient times, with ancient Egyptian texts from 2750 BCE describing electric fish as the "protectors" of all other fish. In the 1600s, English scientist William Gilbert established the science underlying the study of electricity and magnetism, and his work inspired further investigations by Sir Thomas Browne, who wrote books about his findings. Gilbert and Browne are credited with being the first scientists to use the term "electricity".
However, Benjamin Franklin did play a significant role in advancing our understanding of electricity. Franklin is known for his famous kite experiment, which he proposed in 1752. The experiment was designed to investigate the nature of lightning and electricity, which were not yet fully understood at the time. Franklin's hypothesis was that lightning was a form of electricity, and he set out to prove this theory through his kite experiment.
The experiment involved flying a kite with a pointed conductive wire attached to its apex during a thunderstorm. The wire was connected to a hemp string that was allowed to get wet in the rain, providing conductivity. A silk string was also attached to the kite, which was kept dry to insulate it. A house key was attached to the hemp string and connected to a Leyden jar, an early form of capacitor that could store an electrical charge.
Franklin conducted this experiment with the assistance of his son, William. As the kite flew near thunderclouds, it collected static electricity from the air, conducting it down the wet kite string to the key. Franklin observed that the loose threads of the hemp string stood erect, indicating the presence of an electrical charge.
Franklin's kite experiment successfully demonstrated that lightning and electricity were the result of the same phenomenon. This experiment, along with his lightning rod idea, provided evidence that lightning was indeed a form of electricity. Franklin's work laid the foundation for further advancements in the understanding and application of electricity by scientists such as Thomas Edison, who patented the electric lightbulb in 1879.
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William Gilbert's work on magnetism
While there were several contributors to the discovery of electricity, the English scientist William Gilbert is credited with establishing the science underlying its study, along with magnetism, at the turn of the 17th century. Gilbert was a physician and natural philosopher who, in 1600, published a six-volume treatise titled "De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, et de Magno Magnete Tellure" ("On the Magnet, Magnetic Bodies, and the Great Magnet of the Earth"). This work compiled all the knowledge of magnetism and electricity known at the time, including descriptions of Gilbert's experiments, his conclusions, and data obtained by others.
Gilbert's work introduced basic terminology still used in the field of electromagnetism, such as electricity, electric attraction, electric force, and magnetic pole. He is also credited with coining the term "electricus" ("of amber" or "like amber" in Neo-Latin) to describe the property of attracting small objects after being rubbed. This term gave rise to the English words "electric" and "electricity," which first appeared in print in Thomas Browne's "Pseudodoxia Epidemica" in 1646.
One of Gilbert's most significant contributions was his theory that the Earth possesses magnetic properties. To support this theory, he developed a versorium, an instrument consisting of a freely pivoting metal needle influenced by magnetic or electric fields, and a round lodestone called a terella. Through his experiments, Gilbert concluded that a compass needle points north-south and dips downward because the Earth acts as a bar magnet.
Gilbert's work, "De Magnete," was highly influential and brought him considerable fame. It is believed to have inspired scientists such as Galileo and Johannes Kepler. In 1600, Gilbert was elected President of the Royal College of Physicians, and in 1601, he became the personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I.
Unfortunately, Gilbert passed away in 1603, possibly due to the bubonic plague. However, his legacy in the field of magnetism and electricity is significant, and he is often regarded as the father of electrical studies.
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Thomas Edison's lightbulb
The simple answer to who discovered electricity first in the world is Benjamin Franklin. However, many other scientists and researchers, including Thomas Edison, contributed to the discovery of electricity.
Thomas Edison, born in Ohio in 1847, was one of the most well-known inventors of all time. Edison's work focused on developing an efficient incandescent lamp, which would be suitable for indoor use and could compete with gas and oil-based lighting.
In 1875, Edison set up a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he worked on his electric lightbulb. By 1878, Edison and his associates had worked on thousands of different theories to develop the lamp. Edison's lamp consisted of a filament housed in a glass vacuum bulb. The filament was made of platinum, which was chosen for its ability to resist high temperatures. The lamp worked by passing electricity through the filament, causing it to heat up and glow. However, Edison's early prototypes only burned for a few hours before the filament melted.
Edison persevered and continued to test different materials for the filament, eventually succeeding in creating a long-lasting incandescent lamp. In 1879, he patented the electric lightbulb, and the world has been brighter ever since.
Edison's work on the electric lightbulb is a testament to his perseverance and dedication to his craft. He is remembered as one of the most prolific inventors in American history, with his inventions having a widespread impact on the modern industrialised world.
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Nikola Tesla's AC electrical system
The history of electricity is a fascinating one, with many scientists contributing to its discovery and application over centuries. While Benjamin Franklin is often credited with discovering electricity, the story goes back much further. In the 17th century, English scientist William Gilbert established the foundation for studying electricity and magnetism, and his work inspired Sir Thomas Browne, who further investigated and wrote books about his findings. The term "electricity" first appeared in Browne's work in 1646.
Now, let's delve into Nikola Tesla's AC electrical system, a groundbreaking innovation in the field of electricity. Nikola Tesla, a physicist born in 1856 in Austria-Hungary, emigrated to the United States in 1884. He is renowned for pioneering the generation, transmission, and use of alternating current (AC) electricity. Tesla's AC motor was a remarkable advancement that revolutionized the way electrical energy was converted into mechanical energy.
The key components of Tesla's AC motor included a rotor, a stator, and coils. Together, these elements formed a system that utilized electromagnetic induction to create a magnetic field with alternating current. This innovative design allowed for the efficient conversion of current into motion, a process that had not been achieved with such effectiveness previously. One of the standout features of Tesla's system was its ability to transmit energy over vast distances, a capability that set it apart from direct current systems.
The induction motor was a pivotal part of Tesla's overall vision. He obtained a series of history-making patents, showcasing a polyphase alternating-current system. This system encompassed a generator, transformers, a transmission layout, and a motor with lights. It provided the fundamental components for electrical production and utilization, from the power source to the end-user. The versatility and cost-effectiveness of Tesla's AC system were game-changers, and it remains the basis of our AC power system today.
In 1888, George Westinghouse, the head of the Westinghouse Electric Company, recognized the potential of Tesla's system and purchased the patent rights. Westinghouse employed Tesla's alternating current system to illuminate the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Tesla's technology also powered the world's first large-scale hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls in 1896. The Tesla coil, invented in 1891, continues to be utilized in various electronic devices, including radio and television sets, showcasing the enduring impact of his inventions.
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Ancient experiments
The study of electrical phenomena dates back to ancient times, with the first observation of electricity dating back to 500 BC when Thales of Miletus discovered static electricity by rubbing lightweight objects such as fur or feathers on amber. The Ancient Egyptians referred to electric catfish as the "thunderers of the Nile", and were so fascinated by these creatures that they conducted and documented crude experiments, such as touching the fish with an iron rod to cause electric shocks. This early understanding of electricity remained unknown for almost 2,000 years until the 1600s, when English scientist William Gilbert distinguished the lodestone effect from static electricity produced by rubbing amber.
In the 17th and early 18th centuries, further work was conducted by Otto von Guericke, Robert Boyle, Stephen Gray, and C.F. du Fay. In the early 1700s, English scientist Francis Hauksbee experimented with electrical attraction and repulsion, creating a glass ball that glowed when rubbed.
In the late eighteenth century, Charles-Augustin de Coulomb investigated the phenomena of electric repulsion and attraction, deducing that charge manifests itself in two opposing forms. This discovery led to the well-known axiom: like-charged objects repel, and opposite-charged objects attract.
In 1751, Benjamin Franklin published a book of his discoveries about the behaviour of electricity, providing the basis for all further electricity experimentation. He is often credited with discovering electricity, although this is a simplification of a long and complex history of study and discovery.
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Frequently asked questions
While American polymath Benjamin Franklin is most credited for discovering electricity in 1752, no one person can be solely credited with its discovery. The development of the theory of electromagnetism in the 19th century marked significant progress, leading to electricity's industrial and residential application by the century's end.
Essentially, electricity is a form of energy resulting from the presence and movement of electric charges, or the flow of electrons. This energy powers most devices today, from your TV to lightbulbs.
Thomas Edison patented the electric light bulb in 1879. However, he did build on earlier researchers' work, such as Alessandro Volta's voltaic pile from 1800.
