Historical Energy Discoveries (NCVPS)

By andyheidinger
  • Jan 1, 1000

    Chinese Burn Coal For Energy

    Chinese Burn Coal For Energy
    APPROXIMATELY 1000 B.C.
    The Chinese discovered coal and started burning it. They noticed that it would burn longer and hotter than wood. Coal became the most used fuel in China.

  • Ben Franklin Discovers Electricity

    Ben Franklin Discovers Electricity
    Benjamin Franklin is most noted for his discovery of electricity, Many people before Ben had discovered glimpses of electricity but had not come near as far as him. Ben Franklin went outside with a key tied to the tip of a kite and noticed that the strings on the kite were erect. When he brought the kite down, he touched the key, which shocked him (which was electricity).

  • Inventionof the Telegraph

    Inventionof the Telegraph
    EXACT DATE UNKNOWN Samuel Soemmering invented the first electrical telegraph (Samuel Morse later improved it and developed Morse Code).

  • Invention of the Fuel Cell

    Invention of the Fuel Cell
    EXACT DATE IS NOT KNOWN In 1839, Sir William Robert Grove invented the very first fuel cell. He mixed hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of an electrolyte. It produced electricity and water.

  • First Photovoltaic

    First Photovoltaic
    EXACT DATE IS UNKNOWN In 1839, Edmund Becquerel discovered the worlds first photovoltaic by experimenting with an electrolyte cell. He mixed silver chloride in an acidic solution and it illuminated (while it was connected to platinum electrodes).

  • Invention of the Internal Combustion Engine

    EXACT DATE UNKNOWN Etienne Lenoir was a Belgian inventor who developed the first (successful/comercially sold) internal combustion engine.

  • Invention of Hydroelectric Power

    Invention of Hydroelectric Power
    EXACT DATE IS UNKNOWN (LATE 1870'S) Lester Allan Pelton modeled, tested, and manufactured the very first "Pelton Wheel". It could produce a very small amount of electricity (kinetic energy).

  • Invention of the Light Bulb

    Invention of the Light Bulb
    Thomas Edison designed the first (successful/effecient/commercially sold) incandescent light bulb which used carbon filament.

  • Development of Modern Automobile

    Development of Modern Automobile
    Henry ford did not invent the automobile, however he did produce the first successful and commercially sold automobile known as the Ford Model T.

  • First Nuclear Bomb

    First Nuclear Bomb
    The first nuclear bomb was completed and tested in the Jornada del Muerto desert (New Mexico).