JATC - History of Electricity

History of Electricity
______________________________________

The Inventors...The Power to Grow

around
600 BC

Thales, a Greek, found that when amber was rubbed with silk, it became electrically charged and attracted objects. He had originally discovered static electricity. The word electricity comes from "elektron" the Greek word for amber.

1752

By tying a key onto a kite string during a storm, Ben Franklin , proved that static electricity and lightning were the same. His correct understanding of the nature of electricity paved the way for the future.

1800

First electric battery invented by Alessandro Volta. The "volt" is named in his honor.

1808

Humphry Davy invented the first effective "arc lamp." The arc lamp was a piece of carbon that glowed when attached to a battery by wires.

1820

Separate experiments by Hans Christian Oersted, A.M. Ampere, and D.F.G. Arago confirmed the relationship between electricity and magnetism.


Hans Christian Oersted	A.M. Ampere	D.F.G. Arago

1821

The first electric motor was invented by Michael Faraday.

1826

Georg Ohm defined the relationship between power, voltage, current and resistance in "Ohms Law."

1831

Joseph Henry separately discovered the principle of electromagnetic induction but didn't publish his work. He also described an electric motor.

1832

In 1832, after the publication of Faraday's experiments in his famous Experimental Researches into Electricity", Hippolyte Pixii, an electrical instrument maker in Paris, constructed with the aid of William Ritchie a device in which a rotating permanent magnet induced an alternating current in the field coils of a stationary horseshoe electromagnet. Pixii called it a 'magnetoelectric' machine.

1835

Joseph Henry invented the electrical relay, used to send electrical currents long distances.

1837

Thomas Davenport invented the electric motor, an invention that is used in most electrical appliances today.

1839

Sir William Robert Grove developed the first fuel cell, a device that produces electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen.

1841

James Prescott Joule showed that energy is conserved in electrical circuits involving current flow, thermal heating, and chemical transformations. A unit of thermal energy, the Joule, was named after him.

1844

Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph, a machine that could send messages long distances across wire.

1860's

Mathematical theory of electromagnetic fields published. J.C. Maxwell created a new era of physics when he unified magnetism, electricity and light. Maxwell's four laws of electrodynamics ("Maxwell's Equations") eventually led to electric power, radios, and television.

1876

Charles Brush invented the "open coil" dynamo (or generator) that could produce a study current of electricity.

1878

Joseph Swan, and Englishman, invented the first incandescent lightbulb (also called an "electric lamp"). His lightbulb burned out quickly. Charles Brush developed an arc lamp that could be powered by a generator. Thomas Edison founded the Edison Electric Light Co. (US), in New York City. He bought a number of patents related to electric lighting and began experiments to develop a practical, long-lasting light bulb.


Joseph Swan	Charles Brush	Thomas Edison

1879

After many experiments, Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb that could be used for about 40 hours without burning out. By 1880 his bulbs could be used for 1200 hours.

1879

Electric lights (Brush arc lamps) were first used for public street lighting, in Cleveland, Ohio. California Electric Light Company, Inc. in San Fransicso was the first electric company to sell electricity to customers. The company used two small Brush generators to power 21 Brush arc light lamps.

1881

The electric streetcar was invented by E.W. Siemens

1882

Thomas Edison opened the Pearl Street Power Station in New York City. The Pearl Street Station was one of the world's first central electric power plants and could power 5,000 lights. The Pearl Street Station was a direct current (DC) power system, unlike the power systems that we use today which use alternating current (AC). The first hydroelectric station opened in Wisconsin. Edward Johnson first put electric lights on a Christmas tree.


Thomas Edison	Edward Hibberd Johnson

1883

Nikola Tesla invented the "Tesla coil", a transformer that changes electricity from low voltage to high voltage making it easier to transport over long distances. The transformer was an important part of Tesla's alternating current (AC) system, still used to deliver electricity today.

1884

Nikola Tesla invented the electric alternator, an electric generator that produces alternating current (AC). Until this time electricity had been generated using direct current (DC) from batteries. AC electrical systems are better for sending electricity over long distances. Steam turbine generator, capable of generating huge amounts of electricity, was invented by Sir Charles Algernon Parsons.


Nikola Tesla	Sir Charles Algernon Parsons

1886

William Stanley developed the induction coil transformer and an alternating current electric system.

1888

Nikola Tesla demonstrated the first "polyphase" alternating current (AC) electrical system. His AC system including everything needed for electricity production and use: generator, transformers, transmission system, motor (used in appliances) and lights. George Westinghouse, the head of Westinghouse Electric Company, bought the patent rights to the AC system. The first use of a large windmill to generate electricity was built by inventor Charles Brush. He used the windmill to charge batteries in the cellar of his home in Cleveland, Ohio.

1893

The Westinghouse Electric Company used an alternating current (AC) system to light the Chicago World's Fair.

A 22 mile AC powerline was opened, sending electricity from Folsom Powerhouse in California to Sacramento.

1897

Electron discovered by Joseph John Thomson.

2010 -

Invent something so we can put your photo here and celebrate your discovery.