Do you depend on electricity as much as you rely on food and water? How different would life be without electricity to power your favorite video games, television shows, telephones, and even the lights you read by at night?
Imagine this…without electricity, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your daily Wonder of the Day! What a terrible thought! But don’t fret. Electricity does exist and it enables us to enjoy life in so many ways.
Since electricity is a natural force that exists in our world, it didn’t have to be created. However, it did have to be discovered and understood. Many people attribute the discovery of electricity to Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin possessed one of the most brilliant scientific minds of his era. He had a keen interest in various areas of science, made numerous discoveries, and invented many things, including bifocal glasses. In the mid-1700s, he developed an interest in electricity.
Before that time, scientists were primarily aware of and experimented with static electricity. Benjamin Franklin took a significant leap forward. He proposed the concept that electricity consisted of positive and negative elements and that electricity flowed between these elements. He also believed that lightning was a form of this flowing electricity.
In 1752, Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment. He flew a kite during a thunderstorm to demonstrate that lightning was electricity. He attached a metal key to the kite string to conduct the electricity.
As he had hypothesized, electricity from the storm clouds transferred to the kite and electricity flowed down the string, giving him a shock. Fortunately, he did not get injured, and he didn’t mind the shock since it validated his idea.
Building upon Franklin’s work, many other scientists studied electricity and began to gain more understanding of how it functions. For instance, in 1879, Thomas Edison patented the electric light bulb, and our world has been brighter ever since!
But was Benjamin Franklin truly the first person to discover electricity? Perhaps not! In the late 16th century, English scientist William Gilbert established the scientific foundation for the study of electricity and magnetism. Inspired by Gilbert’s work, another Englishman, Sir Thomas Browne, conducted further investigations and wrote books about his findings. Gilbert and Browne are acknowledged as the first scientists to use the term “electricity.”
Scientists have found evidence that ancient civilizations may have also experimented with electricity. In 1936, a clay pot was unearthed, suggesting that the first batteries may have been invented over 2,000 years ago. The clay pot contained copper plates, tin alloy, and an iron rod.
It could have been utilized to generate an electric current by filling it with an acidic solution, such as vinegar. The purpose of the device remains unknown, but it sheds some light on the idea that people may have been gaining knowledge about electricity long before Benjamin Franklin!
Try It Out
Are you ready to have some fun with electricity? Make sure to explore the following activities with a friend or family member:
Have you ever thought about how much you rely on electricity in your daily life? It’s easy to take it for granted, but when the power goes out, we quickly realize how much we depend on it. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, electricity plays a critical role in our lives. We use it for everything, from turning on the lights and setting the alarm clock to running the refrigerator and washing machine. But have you ever wondered how electricity is produced to power all of these appliances and gadgets? You can find the answer in an animated guide from SaveOnEnergy.
The way electricity is generated can vary depending on where you live. Many methods use natural resources, like coal, to produce power. However, since these resources are limited and not easily replaceable, it’s important to be mindful of our electricity usage. By making small changes to our daily routine, we can actually save a significant amount of electricity. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can save energy, check out the “How You Can Save Energy” guide online.
If you’re looking for a fun experiment to learn more about electricity, you can try making your own Homemade Battery using a few household items, including a lemon and a penny. Just make sure to ask an adult for help!
For more information on the history and discovery of electricity, you can visit the following sources:
– http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/history.htm
– http://inventors.about.com/cs/inventorsalphabet/a/Ben_Franklin_4.htm
– http://www.universetoday.com/82402/who-discovered-electricity/
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