Electricity

Section 1: Advances in Technology and Communication

“The telephone is a curious device that might fairly find place in the magic of Arabian tales. Of what use is such an invention?” This was one newspaper reporter’s reaction to the invention of the telephone in 1876. Although some inventions of the Industrial Revolution seemed odd at first, they soon had a great affect on how people lived worked, and thought.

Electricity: Beginning in the early 1800s, manufacturers increasingly applied the findings of science to their businesses, thus generating new industrial growth. The application of scientific solutions to industrial problems had three main results. First, it encouraged the development and use of new sources of power. This was necessary for industry to grow. Second, it gave rise to inventions that could provide rapid communication over long communication over long distances. Finally, it led to the creation of new products and materials and the improvement of old ones.

Development of Electricity. As industry grew during the 1800s, manufacturers continued to search for new and better sources of power. In the 1870s, a tremendous new power source вЂ" electricity - was developed.

*Michael Faraday вЂ" English scientist made key discoveries about electricity in the 1820s and 130s. Concentrated mainly on exploring nature of electricity through a coil of wire, he could generate an electric current in the wire. Developed the first dynamo, or electric generator: Direct ancestor of all electric motors.

EDISON AND THE LIGHTBULB. 1840s вЂ" First light bulbs, burned in couple of minutes. 1879 - American inventor Thomas Edison created bulb that glowed for two days before burning out. Developed a system for successfully transmitting electricity from a central powerhouse.