Alessandro Volta was born in 1745 in Como, Italy. He became a professor of experimental physics at the University of Pavia in 1774, where he worked for 25 years. In 1800, Volta invented the first electric battery, which produced a steady electric current. This invention led Napoleon to make Volta a count in 1810. Volta studied gases and discovered methane and that a methane-air mixture could be exploded with an electric spark, laying the basis for the internal combustion engine. He also discovered the relationship between electrical charge, capacity, and voltage in a capacitor. Volta died in 1827 and is recognized for his invention of the battery and contributions to understanding electricity and gases.
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Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta
was born in Como on February 18th, 1745.
In 1774 he became professor of experimental
physics at the University of Pavia, a chair he
occupied for almost 25 years.
In 1800, he invented the first electric battery,
which produced a steady electric current.
In honour of his work, Volta was made a count
by Napoleon in 1810.
He died on March 5th, 1827.
7. The electrophorus uses the principle of
electrostatic induction, that is the
redistribution of electric charges in a conductor
caused by the proximity of an electricfied
object.
At the beginning the two disks are beated to
remove moisture; then the resin disk is rubbed
with a cloth and so it electrifies.
the brass disk is placed on the resin one and
the charges are redistribuited inside due to
induction.
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8. If you touch the plate with a finger or you
connect it to the ground, the charges on the top
face of the brass disk are dispersed into the
enviroment and it remains charged in the
opposte way with respect to the resin disk.
Now you can use the brass disk to make
electrostatic experiments.
When the charge on the brass disk is
exhausted, in order to have charges again, you
can place the disk back on the resin support
that is still thrilled and then you can repeat the
process over again.
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9. Volta studied gases and succeded in
discovering the isobaric expansion of air law,
estended later by Gay-Lussac to all gases.
He was also the first person to isolate methane
and discovered that a methane- air mixture
could be esploded in a closed container with
an electric spark: this is the basis of the
internal combustion engine.
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10. Volta discovered that the electrical potential in
a capacitor is directly proportional to electrical
charge by the formula Q=CV where Q is the
electrical charge, C is the the proportional
costant called “capacity” and V is the voltage.
He also wrote about the capacitor he had
constructed to collect and store electric charge,
and how he had used it to study a variety of
electrical phenomena.
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