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| Michael Faraday Born 1791 Died 1821 Michael Faraday was self-educated man with brilliant mind and a humble soul. The tremendous scope and depth of Faraday's work, spanned a period of 60 years. Faraday conducted some of the most groundbreaking work of his day and is a pinnacle figure in 19th century science. One of Faraday’s most notable discoveries is the Electro magnetic field. "Researches in Electricity" (published in 1831) changed the scientific view of how the world worked right up to the present day. At the request of the editor of Philosophical Magazine Faraday conducted several experiments in an attempt to further explain the very basic concept of electricity to the readers While conducting these experiments Faraday developed the concept in which circular ' lines of magnetic force' are wrapped around a wire carrying an electric current. He then constructed a model in which a suspended wire carrying an electric current moved in a circle around a fixed magnet, and in which a suspended magnet moved in a circle around a fixed wire carrying a current, each pushed by the magnetic field. This is the basic principle behind the dynamo, or the electric generator. " If electricity could generate magnetism, then magnetism ought to be able to generate electricity". Faraday did not have a background in sophisticated mathematics consequently he does not articulate his discovery through a complex equation. Faraday describes his discovery to us as a visual image of "Lines of force" which create "an Electro magnetic field" or "fields of gravity". Many of Faraday's experiments were grounded in chemistry, which lead to his discovery of benzene, chlorine and a process to Liquefy gases. Aside from his brilliant work in science Faraday was known to his colleagues as a kind, humble self made individual of strong character, which was perhaps his greatest accomplishment. He was elected director of the lab at the Royal Institution of London. This position enabled him to link an entire scientific community through print, weekly lectures and conferences. This in turn enlarged a network of scientists who freely exchanged ideas and discussed theories. As a child Faraday's formal education was cut short by a series of dramatic events. Unfourtunely for young Michael the educational philosophy of the day was, "Spare the whip spoil the child". This combined with a speech impediment that prevented him from pronouncing his R's, lead to a traumatic experience which Michael would never forget. Ongoing friction between the school master and young Michael finally came to a head. One morning the schoolmaster beat the child so severely that he could not move off the classroom floor. Enraged at seeing this, Michael's older brother Robert (or Wobert as Michael called him) leapt from his desk, flew out of the school, and raced home. About an hour later Robert reappeared at the school with the boys Mother. As they entered the classroom, young Michael still lying on the floor, the Mother became furious. Mrs. Faraday marched out carrying little Michael with Robert trailing behind lashing out at the schoolmaster, Mrs. Faraday leaving public education forever. Michael Faraday started an apprentice as a bookbinder at the age of 12. It was here young Michael became fascinated with science and read everything within his reach. He was particularly interested in an article on electricity he read in the Encyclopedia Britannica, which inspired him to conduct, numerous homes brewed scientific experiments, while teaching him the basics of physics and chemistry. At the age of 19 he joined the City Philosophical Society and attended lectures on a regular basis. Not only did Faraday take meticulous notes of all of the lectures, which he attended, but also he then took those notes and made them in to carefully constructed bound books. Faraday's employer, M. Ribeau, a French immigrant who came to London fleeing the revolution of France, would proudly show young Michael's bound books to many of his customers. One day a customer entered the bookbinder shop to drop of f a job and invited Faraday to attend a lecture given by Sir Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution. Sir Humphry Davy was, at that time, the top scientist in England and the head of the Royal Institution. (It is important to note that Sir Humphry Davy was known for his discovery of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) which was used as a Medical anesthetic. Davy was most well known for "The Davy lamp" which was used in coal minds to relieve the pressure of escaping gas.) Needless to say Michael was thrilled. After attending the lecture in an effort to win the praise of Sir Humphry Davey, Faraday put together a bound book with transcripts of all of Sir Humphry Davy's lectures which he had attended. He then asked Davy for a job at the institution. Davy said that there was no opening at the present time. Fortunately for Faraday, shortly after this, Davys present assistant was dismissed suddenly over an issue of conduct. A few days later Davey was temporally blinded by a gas explosion during an experiment. Davey hired Faraday immediately after the accident to cover for the assistant at first for a few days. After seeing Faraday work in the shop for a week, on March 1st 1813-at the age of 21 Davy took Faraday in for good. Michael made less money in the institution then as a bookbinder. Faraday works diligently assisting Davy in his experiments, cleaning the lab, and lugging his bags on their long trips to Europe. It was on the European excursions where Faraday began to make his mark. Faraday met all of Sir Humphry Davey colleagues who immediately took a great liking to Faraday. They were swept by his enthusiastic yet every so humble approach to life it self and although Davey saw him as simple assistant many of the scientists saw Michael as the next inline to take over the intuition. Scientists like Ampere and De La Rive in France would become life long colleagues with Faraday. We see these relationships blossom over the years in letters exchanged on a wide Variety of scientific subjects. By 1854 Faraday was now well established as the Dr of the royal Institute of London. He would deliver lectures and publish articles on a regular basis. The papers of the royal society once published would be read throughout Europe. An n excited young Philip Reis was just one in the audience. Reis wrote several letters to Faraday about his work and research in Electricity. As documented in "The life of Faraday": Faraday to Professor Reiss: Royal Institution November 19th 185 p5 Professor Reiss to Faraday: Berlin: August 9, 1855 Professor Reiss to Faraday: Berlin: December 10th 1855 Reiss wrote a paper in conjunction with Faraday "On the action of Non-conducting bodies in Electric Induction" which appeared in the January issue of The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science. Faraday also delivered this paper to the Royal society in the form of a lecture in 1856. This comes just 4 years before Reiss would invent the "Das Phone" Discoveries-1816 began to publish scientific papers 1821- Historical Sketches of the Electro Magnet Contact in Voltaic Electricity New Electro Magnetic Apparatu New Electro Magnetical Motions 1823-Liquefy gases- chlorine 1824 –Elected to the society despite Davey 1825-Discovered benzene- Elected director of the lab he starts his Friday night lectures, which will become a Royal Institution tradition Electric powers of oxalate of Lime Electro Magnetic current Electro Magnetic rotations 1829-On Mr. Wheatstones illustrations of the resonance or reciprocated vibrations of volumes of Air 1831-April 2 on the power of Electricity to confer phosphorescence on certain metals April 29 On Mr. Trevelyan's recent experiments on the production of sound during the conduction of heat May 12 on a peculiar class of acoustical figures and on certain forms assumed by groups of particles upon vibrating elastic surfaces June 18- on the arrangements assumed by particles on the surfaces of vibrating elastic bodies Nov 24 Experimental researches in Electricity Series 1 1) On the induction of Electric currents 2) On the evolution of electricity from Magnetism 3) On a new electrical condition of matter 4) On Arago’s magnetic phenomena At the request of the editor of Philosophical Magazine Faraday conducted several experiments in an attempt to further explain the very basic concept of electricity to the readers. While conducting these experiments Faraday developed the concept in which circular ' lines of magnetic force' are wrapped around a wire carrying an electric current. He conceived and then constructed a model in which a suspended wire carrying an electric current moved in a circle around a fixed magnet, and in which a suspended magnet moved in a circle around a fixed wire carrying a current, each pushed by the magnetic field. This is the basic principle behind the dynamo, or the electric generator. " If electricity could generate magnetism, then magnetism ought to be able to generate electricity". (Michael Faraday 1821)(Pg57 Schrodinger's Kittens, John and Mary Gribbin) Faraday did not have a background in sophisticated mathematics and as a result of this did not articulate his discovery through a complex equation. He instead describes his discovery to us as a visual image of "Lines of force" which create "an Electro magnetic field" or "fields of gravity". If electricity could generate magnetism, thenmagnetism ought to be able to generate electricity". (Michael Faraday 1821) "An Early History of the Telephone 1664-1865" By Daniel P McVeigh |