Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio, USA and died on October 18, 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey, USA. Edison was an American inventor, businessman, and industrialist known for his work on commercial applications of light and electrical energy. Here are the important periods of Thomas Edison's life:

• Early Ages: After his youth in Michigan, Edison started his working life at an early age by selling news papers on trains and working as a telegraph operator. During this time, he self-taught himself on a variety of subjects in an auto-didactic manner.

• First Inventions: Edison's first attempts at invention are known for the telegraph devices and other inventions he developed. During this period, he attracted attention for his work on the telegraph industry.

• Lamp Invention: One of Edison's most famous inventions is his invention of a practically usable light bulb in 1879. This invention was of great importance in providing electric lighting on a large scale.

• General Electric Company: Edison was one of the founders of General Electric (GE), a company that made a huge impact on the electrical industry. However, he left GE over time due to differences of opinion in the company's management. Other Inventions: Edison also made many other inventions related to electricity. These inventions include the gramophone, film camera and magnetic iron-zinc battery.

• His Last Years: Edison worked on many projects until his death. However, he began to have health problems, especially towards the end of the 1920s. He died on October 18, 1931, at the age of 84, at his home in West Orange, New Jersey.

A brief narrative about Edison's invention of the light bulb:

• The Road to the Invention of the Lamp: Edison began his work on electricity in the early 1860s. He worked on telegraphs and other electrical devices before focusing on his work on electric lighting.

• Electric Lamp Studies: Edison made serious efforts to develop an electrically powered lamp in the early 1870s. The light bulb had great potential as a means of illumination to replace gas lamps at the time.

• Trial and error: Edison went to great lengths to find the best filament material by testing thousands of different materials. Using trial and error, he discovered that filament was a material that could convert electric current into heat.

• Filament from Carbon: Edison discovered that a filament made of carbon dioxide could conduct electric current and was durable. This was a significant improvement that allowed the bulb to burn longer.

• Commercialization of the Light Bulb in 1880: Edison successfully developed a durable light bulb using carbon filament in 1880. This bulb could produce light when an electric current was passed through it and last for a long time.

• Impact of Thomas Edison's Invention of the Light Bulb: Edison's light bulb pioneered a revolutionary change in lighting technology. Electric lighting replaced gas lamps, becoming a safer and more effective method of lighting.

Edison's invention of the light bulb contributed to the popularization of electric lighting and the development of one of the fundamental technologies of the modern world. Edison's achievements are admired worldwide for his impact on inventiveness and entrepreneurship.

Edison and Tesla Wars

The "wars" between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla refer to a series of conflicts arising from the two famous inventors having different views and approaches. These battles often center on the rivalry between Edison's direct current (DC) electrical system and Tesla's alternating current (AC) electrical system.

Here are the main elements of these conflicts:

• Electric Power System Competition: Edison developed the DC electrical system and received patents in the mid-19th century. However, it was difficult to transport energy over long distances with this system. Tesla developed the AC electrical system, and this system could transmit energy over longer distances and more effectively.

• Niagara Falls Project: Edison initiated a project to generate energy by building a large hydroelectric power plant in Niagara Falls. However, Tesla's AC system beat Edison on the Niagara Falls Project because it was more efficient at transporting energy over long distances.

• Propaganda and Campaigns: In his campaigns, Edison sometimes called Tesla's AC system dangerous and unsafe. In fact, as part of these campaigns it has organized shows showing that AC can harm animals and humans. However, this was part of efforts to compete and gain market share rather than a scientifically based claim.

• Competition with Westinghouse: George Westinghouse, who supported Tesla's AC system, was in competition with Edison. In the electrical power auction, Westinghouse and Tesla's AC system won against Edison's DC system. This enabled the AC system to have a wider range of use.

• Grounding System Discussion: While Edison used a number of strategies to negatively promote the AC system, Tesla also worked and succeeded in many fields related to electricity. Edison, for example, staged various shows, including electrocution of animals and humans, to show them that AC electricity was dangerous. But Tesla's AC system became more widely accepted in industrial and home use with its ability to transport energy more effectively over long distances.

In conclusion, these "wars" between Edison and Tesla are based on rivalries and conflicts over the electrical energy transmission system. However, Tesla's AC system eventually became the industry standard and is still used today.