Edison, Thomas Alva
Published: August 25, 2008, 6:38 am
Updated: August 25, 2008, 6:38 am
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Brian Black Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific American inventor who held more than 1,000 patents on his inventions, including innovations such as the incandescent electric lamp (1879) and the phonograph (1877). Contrary to popular belief, he didn't "invent" the light bulb, but rather improved upon a 50-year-old idea. Edison’s light bulb (1879) used a small, carbonized filament that lasted 40 hours because his design was able to maintain a good vacuum.
Thomas Edison's Patent drawing for an improvement in electric lamps, patented January 27, 1880. Source: National Archives and Records
On September 4, 1882, Edison opened the first commercial power plant, located on Pearl Street in lower Manhattan, New York, that provided light and electricity power to customers in a one square mile area, signaling the beginning of the electric era. Edison invested in direct current (DC) power transmission and fought bitterly against Tesla and Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) transmission. However, Edison would be proven wrong on this front, as AC was much more convenient to transmit since it can be produced at high enough voltages to be transmitted over large distances, whereas DC cannot. His notable scientific discovery was the Edison effect, the emission of electrons from a heated cathode. Edison did not recognize the importance of this discovery, though subsequent scientists used the effect as the basis for the electron tube. Edison is famous for his slogan "genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."
Further Reading
Edison's Phonograph Recordings (U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service)
First Public Demonstration of Edison's Light Bulb (America's Library)
The History of the Edison Cylinder Phonograph (Library of Congress: American Memory)
Thomas Alva Edison - Short Biography (America's Library)
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Article
Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Brian Black (Topic Editor) "Edison, Thomas Alva". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 25, 2008; Last revised Date August 25, 2008; Retrieved May 25, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Edison,_Thomas_Alva>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific American inventor who held more than 1,000 patents on his inventions, including innovations such as the incandescent electric lamp (1879) and the phonograph (1877). Contrary to popular belief, he didn't "invent" the light bulb, but rather improved upon a 50-year-old idea. Edison’s light bulb (1879) used a small, carbonized filament that lasted 40 hours because his design was able to maintain a good vacuum.
Thomas Edison's Patent drawing for an improvement in electric lamps, patented January 27, 1880. Source: National Archives and Records
On September 4, 1882, Edison opened the first commercial power plant, located on Pearl Street in lower Manhattan, New York, that provided light and electricity power to customers in a one square mile area, signaling the beginning of the electric era. Edison invested in direct current (DC) power transmission and fought bitterly against Tesla and Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) transmission. However, Edison would be proven wrong on this front, as AC was much more convenient to transmit since it can be produced at high enough voltages to be transmitted over large distances, whereas DC cannot. His notable scientific discovery was the Edison effect, the emission of electrons from a heated cathode. Edison did not recognize the importance of this discovery, though subsequent scientists used the effect as the basis for the electron tube. Edison is famous for his slogan "genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."
Further Reading
Edison's Phonograph Recordings (U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service)
First Public Demonstration of Edison's Light Bulb (America's Library)
The History of the Edison Cylinder Phonograph (Library of Congress: American Memory)
Thomas Alva Edison - Short Biography (America's Library)
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Article
Site Options
0 Comments
Add Comment