The Australian rock group, AC/DC, discovered its name from its guitar player's sister's sewing machine that could be powered by either alternating currents or direct currents. These forms of power were developed by two inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in the late 1880's. During this time, the Chicago Fair needed a power source, so there was a bid to see which source could power the Fair while spending the least amount of money. This bid sparked the War of the Currents in which Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla conflicted over which source would power the Exposition. The types of current technology and their creators, Edison and Tesla, share some differences. Alternating current technology is a constant movement of electric charge that
Tesla and Edison did not get along; they had different concepts of how to transmit energy. Edison used direct current, but Howard 2 it was inferior to Tesla’s alternating current. Direct current could not be transmitted very far and needed more power stations, while alternating current could go further, was stronger and able to power electronics more efficiently. They soon were involved in what became known as “The War of the Currents”. They fought to get funding for their inventions and for their energy source to be used nationwide.
Even though, Edison failed when General Electric offered a proposal to electrify a project in Chicago using Edison’s direct current for $554,000, but lost to their biggest competitor, George Westinghouse, who offered a contract to power the fair for only $399,000 using Tesla’s alternating current [3]. Also, another failure in 1893 for Edison, when Niagara Falls Power Company decided to build power station and was convinced by George Forbes to award the contract to Westinghouse, and to reject General Electric and Edison's proposal. Work began in 1893 on the Niagara Falls generation project: power was to be generated and transmitted as alternating current, at a frequency of 25 Hz to minimize losses in transmission (changed to 60 Hz in the 1950s). In 1909, the power station was generation AC current from Niagara Falls and deliver it to New York which was a historical achievement in the Electrical systems
People such as Benjamin Franklin, Eli Whitney, and Samuel F.B. Morse have made life changing moments in history. Franklin introduce the idea of electricity, with his more commonly known experiment the key and kite. Though Franklin only established a connection with lightning and electricity, it lead to greater discoveries. Such as the controversy, Tesla versus Edison, and alternating currents(AC) versus direct currents(DC). With all invention there is the common theme of aiding civilization; to make diffucult tasks simpler, but we can't always predict the outcomes.
The Railroad and the Pony Express has been the only way to communicate remotely and send correspondence. Joseph Henry and Samuel F.B. Morse would sculpture the future of communication with the invention of the electromagnet and telegraph. Joseph was a graduate of Princeton (Then called the College of New Jersey) as a physicist. The fascination with electricity and magnetism in which he had read reports on from Europe fascinated his desire to research and develop an electromagnet. This shaped our future of electricity as we see it today. With the ability to distinguish between high amperage circuits and high voltage circuits, this laid the baseline for what we know today as “Inductance”. Electrical conductor produces energy by the changing of current or the changing of voltage to produce a strong magnetic force while only using a small battery. By Joseph Henry’s introduction to inductance also paved a path for the invention of electric motors. These advances in technology developed a method for illuminating homes and streets. The use of electricity was spreading almost as fast as the railroad. This improved the lifestyle and functionality of America. (Tindall, Shi
DC system, Tesla was working with the AC system. Before becoming an inventor Tesla worked as a trained electrical engineer so he had experience working
Imagine a world with a power-plant every two miles, a massive amount of wiring and overall more expensive power. This was the world that Thomas Edison envisioned for the world when he wanted to introduce Direct Current into the United States, but many knew this was an inferior system in comparison to Alternating Current. Nikola Tesla was the man who made AC power possible in the United States, and efficient power possible. Nikola Tesla indeed changed the world with his influence as an inventor and discoveries in the field of electricity. Tesla indeed changed the world through his inventions and was also an extremely interesting human being.
The basis of modern day electrical systems were all derived over a quarrel involving the light bulb, the electric chair, and a 28-year old Croatian immigrant.This dispute involved three of the biggest and most prominent names in the history of electrical engineering: Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and George Westinghouse, who were all scientists and innovators who lived during the late 1800s. Edison and Tesla would get into a quite large argument over the best and most efficient kind of electrical currents. It would be Edison’s direct currents against Tesla’s alternating ones. This disagreement would go on to shape the course of electricity across the country. It would later be known as the War of Currents. The War of Currents had a great impact
Nikola Tesla, an engineer and inventor, led the electrical industry to the cutting edge of technology. Tesla's most important invention, alternating current (AC) electricity, remains the global standard of electricity today. He also made major contributions for the X-ray, wireless radio, and devices ranging from microwave ovens to MX missiles.
Alternating current (AC): Current flows in one direction, then the opposite direction in the circuit.
The paramount of his inventions was AC power distribution. Numerous times he had been told such an idea was impossible, yet he was persistent and changed the world once he made his dream come into fruition. At first, Direct Current power had been a revolutionary advanced idea that brought light to the world and started a golden age in technology. Tesla and Thomas Edison were major parties in this contemporary age of electricity. Edison exploited connections, questionable deals, and influence to undermine Tesla and maintain DC relevancy during their time period. However, for today’s modern world and industry AC holds highly superior advantages over DC. Early on, Tesla and Westinghouse realized that for electrical power to be practical, it was essential to be efficiently transmitted over extraordinarily long distances. AC allows the manipulation of higher voltages and therefore lower currents; making lighter conductors a cheaper and viable ameliorate option. Tesla took advantage of electromagnetic induction mechanical
Nikola Tesla's inventions all began with the poly-phase alternating current electricity system. Alternating current was the secret to creating almost all of Tesla's future inventions and
The electrical inventions by Nikola Tesla has influenced modern physicists and technology substantially. Nikola Tesla’s
Around the same time another inventor, George Westinghouse was trying to introduce his alternating current system to the world. Soon after, Tesla was contacted by Westinghouse to purchase all of his patents. Tesla then began working alongside by Westinghouse. However, they ultimately came out victorious with their AC system, Edison was able to bring his system to the market and made his inventions accessible to the world, which Tesla didn’t really do that.
This means that Tesla won the war of currents with his alternating current. The events that leaded up to this current including Edison’s campaign against AC usage in the United States. In attempt to show how dangerous AC a couple of Edison’s employees created the first electric chair for the state of New York. The International Electro- Technical Exhibition was held in Germany in the year of 1891. This is where the first long distance transmission of a three phase AC was displayed.
In 1891, at the age of 35, he became a naturalized American citizen. In 1893, at the World's Fair, Tesla and Westinghouse made history by having the first exhibit ever powered by electricity. He demonstrated several things, including the fluorescent light bulb. This was to lead to problems with Edison, as Tesla was in favor of AC power, while Edison was promoting DC power systems.