Some of the earliest documented experiments with electricity show that they were done by Benjamin Franklin. He worked extensively and sold many of his possession to finance the experiments. He realized that lightening was a natural source of electricity when he conducted the well known experiment that included a kite being flown during a thunderstorm. The kite was flown with a key attached to the end of the wet string, which attracted the lightening.
Alessandro Volta, an inventor from Italy, invented the electric cell in 1800. His invention made the study of electricity and its many applications easier for scientists everywhere. It was discovered that electric cells could be connected to each other to create a battery.
Nearly everyone knows that Alexander Graham bell invented the telephone. He was intrigued with different methods for transmitting sound since he was a teacher of deaf students. He began experimenting, using electricity with the experiment which lead to his success with the telephone.
Thomas Doolittle, who was employed as a mill worker in Connecticut was responsible for the creation of the hard-drawn copper wire that was used as a telegraph wire because it was so durable. This same application is currently being used in power plants all over America to produce the electricity that this delivered to customers across the country. Electric motors and generators are built using this principle. Motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and generators are used to convert mechanical energy into electricity.
While Thomas Edison experimented with electricity he was able to invent the electrical light bulb in addition to many other gadgets. His biggest challenge when creating the light bulb was to find the right material to use for the filament. He settled on carbon soaked cotton thread. The carbon was used to prevent the cotton thread from burning. The thread glowed as the electricity traveled through it. As soon as the popularity of the light bulb caught on he turned his attention to the development of power plants that would be run the light bulbs. The first power plant that he built began operating in 1882 and served 85 New York city customers.
Edison's power plant originally used direct current and was able to transport power a distance of about one mile in any direction from the power plant. In 1895 the development of alternating current allowed George Westinghouse to deliver power over 200 miles from the newly built power plant in Niagara Falls.
Electricity was rather slow to catch on in America. Many people were excited by the new inventions, but some were afraid of the electrical current and hesitated to have it installed in their houses. Some people were unable to afford the price of the service. Electricity was blamed for causing the end of simple living. Many people felt that electric lights were less romantic than the gas light they were used to.
The newest inventions that were powered with electricity were frequently exhibited at expositions and expositions across the globe. In 1893, at the Columbian Exposition that was held in Chicago, 90,000 incandescent lamps along with 5,000 arc lights were used. The visitors to the expo could view and ride a number of electrified attractions that included water fountains, a moving sidewalk, three cranes, elevators and an on site streetcar system that General Electric created.
In 1901, the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY had electricity as its theme. It featured a 400 foot tall Electric Tower that utilized 40,000 lights and the Electricity Building, which housed a large exhibition of electrical appliances.
Power became more available to a greater number of people as small electrical companies were built across the country. A number of the small companies began to merge together, creating large conglomerates like General Electric and Westinghouse. The large companies built power plants equipped with generators that were used to produce electricity through the use of steam, fossil fuel combustion. Other plants that used kinetic power to generate wind and water power were built. With the development of nuclear power, it was discovered that it was possible to create electricity using the power that released by a nuclear reaction.
The demand for electricity grew by 12% each year for the first thirty years of the twentieth century. In order to keep up with today's demand for electricity, renewable resources are being implemented to supply the much needed power. Many people are using solar power, hydropower and wind power are being put to use in order to meet the demands of consumers and to protect the environment.
About the Author:
Author: Jerry Dyess has been in the Texas Electricity business for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Texas Electric rates.
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