T E S L A Master of Lightning

Starter Questions Why is Thomas Edison famous? In electricity, what’s the difference between AC and DC? What does “mad scientist” mean? Do you know why Nikola Tesla is famous?

Why is Thomas Edison famous?

In electricity, what’s the difference between AC and DC?

What does “mad scientist” mean?

Do you know why Nikola Tesla is famous?

Introduction to Nikola Tesla Today’s lecture looks at the life and inventions of Nikola Tesla Tesla is less famous than Edison and Einstein but equally important

Today’s lecture looks at the life and inventions of Nikola Tesla

Tesla is less famous than Edison and Einstein but equally important

Tesla’s Contributions Alternating current Induction motor Radio Radar Radio control The Tesla coil Spark plug Robot programming X-Ray photography VTOL aircraft Wireless energy transmission (the Tesla effect)

Alternating current

Induction motor

Radio

Radar

Radio control

The Tesla coil

Spark plug

Robot programming

X-Ray photography

VTOL aircraft

Wireless energy transmission (the Tesla effect)

Tesla and Pseudoscience Tesla is linked to many unproven or fantastic scientific concepts Antigravity Force fields Invisibility UFOs Teleportation Death rays

Tesla is linked to many unproven or fantastic scientific concepts

Antigravity

Force fields

Invisibility

UFOs

Teleportation

Death rays

Tesla’s Youth Born in the Austrian Empire (present-day Croatia) in 1856 Family was Serbian A child prodigy, finished grade school quickly Spoke many languages

Born in the Austrian Empire (present-day Croatia) in 1856

Family was Serbian

A child prodigy, finished grade school quickly

Spoke many languages

Tesla’s Education Attended Austrian Polytechnic in Graz in 1875 Studied electrical engineering Left before finishing degree Briefly studied at Prague’s Charles-Ferdinand University in 1880

Attended Austrian Polytechnic in Graz in 1875

Studied electrical engineering

Left before finishing degree

Briefly studied at Prague’s Charles-Ferdinand University in 1880

Tesla’s Early Work Worked for Hungary’s National Telephone Co. in 1880 Went to work for the Continental Edison Co. in 1882 Invented the induction motor at this time

Worked for Hungary’s National Telephone Co. in 1880

Went to work for the Continental Edison Co. in 1882

Invented the induction motor at this time

Tesla and Edison Came to New York City in 1882 to work for Edison Redesigned Edison’s electric motors, but was cheated by Edison Argued with Edison about alternating current (AC)

Came to New York City in 1882 to work for Edison

Redesigned Edison’s electric motors, but was cheated by Edison

Argued with Edison about alternating current (AC)

Tesla and Edison Become Rivals Left Edison to found his own company in 1886 Edison favored direct current, Tesla claimed AC was superior Tesla convinced Westinghouse Co. to use AC

Left Edison to found his own company in 1886

Edison favored direct current, Tesla claimed AC was superior

Tesla convinced Westinghouse Co. to use AC

Tesla Becomes an American Became a naturalized US citizen in 1891 Built labs on Houston St. and 5th Avenue Investigated X-Rays during 1890s Demonstrated AC with Westinghouse at World’s Fair

Became a naturalized US citizen in 1891

Built labs on Houston St. and 5th Avenue

Investigated X-Rays during 1890s

Demonstrated AC with Westinghouse at World’s Fair

Tesla at the 1893 World’s Fair

The War of the Currents Edison’s GE was Westinghouse’s rival Edison electrocuted animals to prove AC was dangerous Tesla gave patents to Westinghouse Both competed for a Niagara Falls power project; Westinghouse won

Edison’s GE was Westinghouse’s rival

Edison electrocuted animals to prove AC was dangerous

Tesla gave patents to Westinghouse

Both competed for a Niagara Falls power project; Westinghouse won

Tesla Moves to Colorado Moved to Colorado Springs in 1899 because he could build a larger laboratory Focused on wireless energy based on the idea that Earth is a giant conductor

Moved to Colorado Springs in 1899 because he could build a larger laboratory

Focused on wireless energy based on the idea that Earth is a giant conductor

Tesla’s Wireless Light Bulbs

Tesla’s Folly Moved back to New York in 1900 Spent $1 million on a wireless energy transmitter at Wardenclyffe, Long Island, New York Unsuccessful, it was sold for scrap during World War I

Moved back to New York in 1900

Spent $1 million on a wireless energy transmitter at Wardenclyffe, Long Island, New York

Unsuccessful, it was sold for scrap during World War I

Tesla’s Final Years Failed to win a Nobel Prize in 1915 Had heavy debts, little funding Honored by Time magazine in 1931 Continued research until his death in 1943

Failed to win a Nobel Prize in 1915

Had heavy debts, little funding

Honored by Time magazine in 1931

Continued research until his death in 1943

Tesla Remembered National hero to the Serbs and Croats Featured in movies (The Prestige) and video games ( Red Alert ) Inspiration and name for an electric car, the Tesla Roadster

National hero to the Serbs and Croats

Featured in movies (The Prestige) and video games ( Red Alert )

Inspiration and name for an electric car, the Tesla Roadster

Discussion Who are the greatest inventors in history? How has electricity changed peoples’ lives? What’s the best way to support inventors? In your mind, which invention is like magic?

Who are the greatest inventors in history?

How has electricity changed peoples’ lives?

What’s the best way to support inventors?

In your mind, which invention is like magic?