9781422276846

A Little History

From the earliest days of recorded history, scientists theorized about and performed basic experiments with electricity. Although breakthroughs and discoveries were made throughout the centuries, it was not until 1800, when an Italian scientist named Alessandro Volta created the first electric cell, that the study of electricity really took off. Some major breakthroughs that occurred in the decades thereafter include: • the recognition of electromagnetism (1819–1820) • the invention of the electric motor (1821) • the discovery of the principles of electromagnetism induction, generation, and transmission (1831) • the demonstration of the first constant electric light (1835). These and other discoveries led to the founding of the Edison Electric Light Co. in the United States and American Electric and Illuminating in Canada in 1878. A year later, the first commercial power station opened in San Francisco. Within a few years, commercially

available supplies of electricity began changing the way people lived—lighting homes that were once lit by candlelight and gas lamps and greatly increasing production at factories. These developments further fueled the Industrial Revolution. In 1900, fewer than 10 percent of U.S. families had access to electricity. Today, 100 percent of U.S. families have access to electricity. On the other hand, an estimated 1.2 billion people—or 16 percent of the global population—do not have access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency.

■ ■ In 1800, the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta created the first electric cell, and the study of electricity really took off.

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