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Commercial coal mining
Commercial coal mining starts. -
hot air engine
Swedish born American john Ericsson builds a hot-air engine powered by the sun -
Coal and Oil Power Plants Utilized
Coal and Oil power plants were used in large cities to provide energy for the growing factories, and for the growing consumer demand for electricity. Coal and oil were burned, and the heat released boiled water. The boiled water released steam, and the steam turned a turbine. The turbine spins and drives a generator. The large generator generated electricity. These new power plants were huge polluters, and were also unreliable. -
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power was discovered during WWII, and was the most destructive force ever released by man. The wartime application of Nuclear power caused the deaths of thousands of unarmed civilians, but the peacetime application of nuclear power helped millions of people. Nuclear power uses a chain reaction to release heat energy. The heat energy boils water, and releases steam. The steam turns a turbine, and spins a generator. The generator generates electricity. -
nuclear fission
Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman, German, demonstrate nuclear fission -
nuclear reactor
The first nuclear reactor begins operation in Richland, Washington -
atomic bomb
The U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders -
Solar power
Solar cells are a very new and efficient energy source. This amazing power source generates electricity directly from the sun. Using a silicon solar cell, the suns energy is turned directly from sunlight into electricity, at 100% efficiency. The lack of steam, turbines, generators and heat create a very efficient and useful source of power. -
Natural Gas use Widespread
Natural gas is an emerging form of electrical generation. Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource created from biological materials that went through a transformation over thousands of years. Refined natural gas is very efficient, clean burning, and inexpensive. This popular fuel source is being used in power plants in place of coal and oil because of its efficiency and cleanness. -
Coal is burnt
The burning of coal to release heat was a discovery that would help man much later. Coal was burnt by early civilizations only to release heat. The heat released was used in construction to melt metals, but was used mostly to create warmth for cooking and people.
