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600 BCE
Around 600 B.C - Thales discovered static electricity
Thales noticed that if amber (hardened tree sap) was
rubbed, it had the ability to pick up dust and leaves. This concept is now called “static electricity”. Unfortunately Thales did not have an scientific explanation for it, they just thought it was interesting.
Reference:
https://phys.org/news/2017-01-static-electricity-tiny.html -
Francis Hauksbee: Neon Light
By late 1705, Hauksbee had discovered that if he placed a small amount of mercury in the glass of his modified version of Otto von Guericke's generator, evacuated the air from it to create a mild vacuum and rubbed the ball in order to build up a charge, a glow was visible if he placed his hand on the outside of the ball. This remarkable discovery was unprecedented at the time. The exact date is unknown.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Hauksbee -
Benjamin Franklin Lightning Rod
After conducting his kite experiment, Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod, to protect people from dangerous lightning. He used a pointed rod, as he found that it was more productive than a ball. The rod would be connected to the ground by wire, and when lightning struck the rod, electricity would go down the wire, into the ground. The lightning rod had saved many structures from destruction from electricity and storms
Reference:
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/science/lightningrod.htm -
Benjamin Franklin Kite Experiment
On June 10, 1752, Franklin performed his famous kite and key experiment. Franklin stood outside under a shelter during a thunderstorm and held on to a silk kite with a key tied to it. When lightning struck, electricity traveled to the key and the charge was collected in a Leyden jar. This proved that lightning and electricity were linked.
Reference:
https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/kite-key-experiment -
Luigi Galvani Dead Frog Experiment
Luigi Galvani was an Italian scientist and doctor. While examining a dead frog, he observed that a spark of electricity made the frog's leg move. Galvani wanted to know how this happened. He presumed that the frog's leg moved when a spark traveled between the two pieces of metal. Using observations, he estimated that the leg moved because of electricity.
Reference:
https://helix.northwestern.edu/article/experiment-shocked-world -
Alessandro Volta invented battery
Alessandro Volta, an Italian scientist heard about Galvani's discovery, and decided to invent electricity. To do this, Volta used many different liquids, and put them in bowls and connected with pieces of metal. He observed that when the bowl with saltwater was connected with the ones with copper and zinc, it made a spark. The world has honored Volta by naming unit of electric potential - the volt - after him.
Reference:
https://ethw.org/Milestones:Volta's_Electrical_Battery_Invention,_1799 -
Oersted discovers electromagnetism
Danish scientist, Hans Christin Oersted found that the needle on a compass would turn away from North when an electrical current from a battery was turned on near the compass. This showed a connection between electricity and magnetism. Thus, he discovered electromagnetism. Reference:
https://www.worldofchemicals.com/475/chemistry-articles/hans-christian-oersted-discoverer-of-electromagnetism.html -
Thomas Edison invents light bulb
After many experiments, Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb that could be used for about 40 hours without burning out. By 1880 his bulbs could be used for 1200 hours. Electric lights were first used for public street lighting in Cleveland, Ohio. California Electric Light Company, Inc. in San Francisco was the first company to sell electricity to customers.
Reference: https://www.bulbs.com/learning/history.aspx -
Nikola Tesla introduces AC current
Nikola Tesla, U.S. immigrant from Austrian Empire invented the "Tesla coil" a transformer that changed electricity from low voltage to high voltage, making it easier to transport over long distances. He also invented the electric alternator for producing alternating current (AC). Until this time, electricity had been generated using direct current (DC) from batteries.
Reference:
https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/nikola-tesla -
JJ Thompson Discovers electron
Electron was discovered by J. J. Thomson in 1897 when he was studying the properties of cathode ray. He won Nobel Prize in 1906 for discovering the elementary particle electron. Interestingly, his son G. P. Thomson also won the Nobel Prize in 1937 for proving the wavelike properties of electron
Reference: http://padakshep.org/otp/subjects/chemistry/physical-chemistry/discovery-of-electrons-protons-and-neutrons/
