One of the most important milestones in the history of the planet is the invention of electricity. It is this discovery that helps to develop our civilization to this day. Electricity is one of the most environmentally friendly types of energy. Who owns the discovery of this phenomenon? How is electricity produced and used? Is it possible to create a galvanic cell by myself?
History of the invention of electricity briefly
Electricity was discovered back in the 7th century BC by the ancient Greek philosopher Thales. He found that amber rubbed with wool can attract smaller objects.
However, large-scale experiments with electricity begin during the renaissance in Europe. In 1650, the mayor of Magdeburg von Guericke built an electrostatic installation. In 1729, Stephen Gray set up an experiment on the transmission of electricity over a distance. In 1747, Benjamin Franklin published an essay that collected all the known facts about electricity.and put forward new theories. Coulomb's law was discovered in 1785.
1800 was a turning point: the Italian Volt invents the first direct current source. In 1820, the Danish scientist Oersted discovered the electromagnetic interaction of objects. A year later, Ampère found that the magnetic field is created by electric current, but not by static charges.
Such great researchers as Gauss, Joule, Lenz, Ohm made an invaluable contribution to the invention of electricity. The year 1830 also became important, because Gauss developed the theory of the electrostatic field. The phenomenon of electromagnetic induction and the development of a motor running on current belongs to Michael Faraday.
At the end of the 19th century, experiments with electricity were carried out by many scientists, including Pierre Curie, Lachinov, Hertz, Thomson, Rutherford. At the beginning of the 20th century, the theory of quantum electrodynamics appeared.
Electricity in nature
The discovery and invention of electricity happened a long time ago. However, it was previously believed that it simply does not exist in nature. But the American Franklin found out that such a phenomenon as lightning has a purely electrical nature. For a long time, his point of view was rejected by the scientific community.
Electricity is of great importance in nature. Many scientists believe that thanks to lightning discharges, the synthesis of amino acids was carried out, as a result of which life originated on Earth. Without nerve impulses, the functioning of the body of any animal is impossible. There are varieties of marine organisms that useelectricity as a means of defense, attack, orientation in space and search for food.
Getting electricity
The invention of electricity had an impact on scientific and technological progress. For many decades, power plants have been created to generate electricity. Electricity is generated using power generators, and then it is transmitted through power lines. The principle of creating current is to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Power plants are divided into the following types:
- atomic;
- wind;
- hydropower;
- tidally distinct;
- sunny;
- thermal.
Using electricity
The invention of electricity is rightfully the greatest discovery, because without it modern life becomes impossible. It is available in almost every home and is used for lighting, information exchange, cooking, heating, and the operation of household appliances. Also, electricity is needed for the movement of trams, trolleybuses, metro, electric trains. The operation of a computer, a cell phone is also impossible without electricity.
A curious experience
It turns out that a galvanic cell can be made independently, and this is done quite simply. This method became famous in the early 20th century.
First, you need to cut the lemon in half with a sharp enough knife in the middle. It is highly undesirable to remove or tearpartitions between the lobules. After that, you need to alternately connect a small piece of wire, about 2 centimeters in size, to each slice. The cells should alternate copper and zinc wires. Then the ends of the protruding wires should be connected in series with a metal wire of a smaller diameter. Thus, you can get a power supply. How to check if it works? To do this, you can measure the voltage with a voltmeter.
One of the most important discoveries in human history was the invention of electricity. The opening date is not exactly known. However, the ancient Greek scientist Thales began to conduct experiments. Active study of electricity began in the Renaissance. Without it, the activity of any living organism is impossible. Today, without this invention, we practically cannot imagine our life. People have long since learned to receive, transmit and use electricity.
