THE LIGHT BULB

Madison Callaway

October 24, 2013

Computer Tech A4

October 24, 2013 I. Light bulb a. Founder b. How they were invented c. Modern day influence Founder- Thomas Edison a. Birth i. February 11, 1847 ii. Born in Milan, Ohio iii. Seventh and last child of Samuel Ogden Edison Jr. and Nancy Matthews Edison b. Early Life i. Grew up in Port Huron, Michigan 1. Moved in 1854, when he was seven years old 2. Sold candies and newspapers on a train 3. Conducted chemical experiments on train 4. Conducted qualitative analysis on train ii. Schooling 1. Mind wandered, teacher called him addled 2. Only 3 months of official schooling 3. Home schooled by his mother a. R.G. Parkers School of Natural Philosophy iii. Deafness a. Caused by scarlet fever b. Also caused by recurring, untreated ear infections c. Career i. Telegrapher 1. Became a telegraph operator a. After saving three year old Jimmie MacKenzie from a runaway train i. Her father was so grateful he trained Edison as an operator 2. Western Union a. Louisville Kentucky when he was 19 years old b. Worked night shift so he could experiment and read during the day c. Fired because he spilled sulfuric acid on the floor while working on a lead-acid battery 3. Inventor a. Phonograph in 1877 i. Recording and reproduction of sounds ii. Recorded on tinfoil around a round cylinder iii. Made Edison a celebrity b. First industrial research lab

II.

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October 24, 2013 i. Menlo Park, New Jersey III. How light bulbs were invented a. First electric light bulb i. Humphry Davy- English Scientist 1800 1. Experimented on electricity and invented an electric battery 2. When he connected carbon to his battery it glowed b. Electric lamps i. Joseph Wilson Swan (1828- 1914) 1. Used carbon paper but it burned quickly c. Bulb that could glow for over 1500 hours i. Thomas Edison 1879 1. Experimented with filaments to find the materials that would glow for long enough and bright enough Modern Day Influence a. Work i. Made longer work hours 1. Spurred industrial revolution ii. Decreased work place hazards 1. Workers could see the work place better b. Home i. Safer home environment 1. Decreased oil based lamp use 2. Created light in the home during the day and night c. Recreation i. Radios ii. Television iii. Eventually led to video games

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October 24, 2013

Thomas Edison, the American inventor, was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan Ohio. Edison was the seventh and last son of Samuel Ogden Edison Jr. and Nancy Matthews Edison. His father, Samuel, had to escape the United States when Thomas was young after taking place in the Mackenzie Rebellion of 1837. Thomas Edison attended three formal months of schooling. During these three months, his mind wandered and he struggled to pay attention in class. He was then home schooled by his mother. This home schooling was based on the book by R. G. Parker, School of Natural Philosophy. Edison suffered from deafness caused by recurring ear infections and the Scarlet Fever. His family moved to Port Huron, Michigan in 1854 when Edison was seven years old. There he worked on a train selling newspapers and candies to passengers. He later began to conduct the chemical experiments and quantitative analysis on this train. Working on this train was the beginning of his love for experiments and science. After Thomas Edison saved three year old Jimmie Mackenzie from a runaway train, Jimmies Father was so grateful that he offered Edison a job as telegraph operator. His first operating job away from his home town was at the Grand Trunk Railway in Ontario. When Edison was eighteen years old, he moved to Louisville, Kentucky to work for the Western Union. There he requested the night shift so that he could perform experiments and read during the daytime. He was fired from his time at the Western Union when he spilled sulfuric acid on the floor while working on a lead-acid battery. He then began his career as an inventor. In 1877, he invented the Phonograph. This device allowed for the recording and reproduction of sounds by recording sounds on tinfoil on a round cylinder. Edison became a celebrity with the production of the phonograph. He then started the first industrial research park in Menlo Park,

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October 24, 2013 New Jersey. He then continued to invent, becoming the inventor with the fourth most patents. Edison has 1,093 US patents under his name. He was the inventor of many devices that greatly influenced American society and some devices that still affect American society. In 1800 the first electric light bulb was invented by Humphry Davy, an English scientist. While experimenting with electricity, he invented an electric battery. He then connected his battery to a piece of carbon and wires, the carbon glowed producing light. Then in 1860, the English physicist Jospeh Wilson Swan was determined to design a long-lasting electric light. He used carbon paper filaments in an electric lamp but this burned out too quickly. Charles Frances Brush designed carbon arcs to light a public square in Cleveland, Ohio in 1877. These carbon arcs and electric bulbs were used by very few people. In 1879, Thomas Edison finally invented a light bulb while experimenting with filaments that could burn for up to 1500 hours. Although you may notice that Thomas Edison didnt actually invent the original light bulb, he did invent the light bulb that became practical and accessible by the general public. This is why so much credit is given to Edison when the light bulb is discussed. Although men had experimented with light and inventing light bulbs before him, Thomas Edison was the first to invent a light bulb that was beneficial to all of society. The men before Edison did help to prepare the way for him. The light bulb had many influences on society when it came out in 1879 and also in todays society. The light bulb most directly affected our culture in three ways: the workplace, homes, and in recreational activities. In 1879, the light bulb allowed for later work hours because businesses and companies could finally have well lit offices where people could work 24 hours a day. This made for longer business days and also helped to spur the Industrial Revolution. Light bulbs still have an effect on the work place today; office buildings and work sites are much safer due to adequate lighting. The Industrial Revolution also had a great impact on our day and the light bulb helped to being The Industrial

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October 24, 2013 Revolution. Light bulbs greatly affected homes and provided a safer home environment. Oil based lamps no longer had to be used in the home; this decreased the chance of home fires. Homes were also now provided with light throughout the day and night. Our homes today are still lit by light bulbs and those light bulbs help us to be able to function not only during the daylight hours. Light bulbs also had a great effect on recreational activities. The light bulb led to television, radio, and eventually video games; all of which we still use for recreation today. The light bulb had an enormous effect on life in 1879 when it first came out and still has an impact on life in the 21st century.

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