The concept of AC (Alternating Current) voltage is rooted in the late 19th century during the “War of the Currents.” Thomas Edison was a staunch supporter of DC (Direct Current), which flows in one direction. However, Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse championed the use of AC, which alternates direction. AC’s ability to be transmitted over … Read more
The story of the AC Generator, also known as an alternator, is a fascinating chapter in the history of electricity. It begins with the foundational work of Michael Faraday, who in 1831 discovered electromagnetic induction—the principle that a changing magnetic field within a loop of wire induces an electric current in the wire. This discovery … Read more
The story of inductance begins in the early 19th century with the observation of electromagnetic phenomena. Ancient civilizations were aware of static electricity and magnetism, but it was not until this period that the connection between electricity and magnetism began to be understood. In 1831, Michael Faraday, a British scientist, conducted a series of experiments … Read more
The phenomenon of eddy currents has been around since the beginning of electromagnetism, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that it was observed and understood. The story begins with François Arago, who in 1824 noticed something peculiar. He observed that a rotating copper disk could cause a compass needle to move. This was the … Read more
The story of Motional EMF begins with the pioneering work of Alessandro Volta in the early 19th century. In 1801, Volta introduced the term “force motrice électrique” to describe the active agent of a battery, which he had invented around 1798. This term translates to “electromotive force” in English and marks the first use of … Read more
Lenz’s Law is named after the German physicist Heinrich Friedrich Emil Lenz, who formulated it in 1834. Lenz was not the first to notice the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, but he was the first to provide a clear and concise rule for determining the direction of induced currents in conductors. The early 19th century was … Read more
The early 19th century was an era of rapid progress in understanding electricity and magnetism. Before Faraday, scientists like Hans Christian Ørsted and André-Marie Ampère had already laid the groundwork by discovering that electric currents affect magnetic needles and that currents could attract or repel each other. Michael Faraday, born in 1791, was not formally … Read more
The story of hysteresis begins in the 19th century, but its roots stretch back to ancient times. The word “hysteresis” itself comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning “deficiency” or “lagging”. This term was chosen because it perfectly describes how certain materials react to changes not immediately, but with a delay, or lag. In 1881, … Read more
The story of magnetism began over 2,500 years ago with the discovery of lodestones. These are naturally occurring magnets, found in the Magnesia region, hence the name ‘magnet’. Ancient Greeks, including the philosopher Thales of Miletus, observed that these stones could attract iron pieces. During the Middle Ages, people began to understand more about magnetism. … Read more
The story of magnetism begins with an ancient and naturally occurring mineral called lodestone. This special rock had the mysterious ability to attract pieces of iron, and it was this property that first introduced humans to the concept of magnetism. The name ‘magnet’ itself comes from the Greek word “magnētis lithos,” which means “Magnesian stone” … Read more