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
ground-breaking 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 E 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 d 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".
Check the language insight. For explanation of visual science-pinker)
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.
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.
1) John and Mary Gribbin -Pg57 Schrodinger's Kittens
2) Bence-Jones -life and Letters of Faraday
3) S.P. Thompson -Michael Faraday: His life and work
4) Martin Thomas- Faradays discovery of Electro-magnetic induction
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 Apparatus
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
Enters the institution-
Network he built-
The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal
of Science Fourth Series January 1856 on the action of Non-conducting
Bodies in Electric Induction by Professor Faraday and Dr.P.Riess
The mechanical devices built by these inventors were no more then
extensions of their physical bodies. The mechanical devices built
by these inventors were no more then extensions of their physical
bodies. The mechanical devices built by these inventors were no
more then extensions of their physical bodies. The mechanical
devices built by these inventors were no more then extensions
of their physical bodies. The mechanical devices built by these
inventors were no more then extensions of their physical bodies.
Schrodinger's Kittens
Pg 55-60 John and Mary Gribbin
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". (Check the language instant.
For explanation of visual science-pinker)
" If electricity could generate magnetism, then magnetism ought
to be able to generate electricity". ( Michael Faraday 1821)