Michael Faraday was born in 1791 in London to a poor family. He had little formal education but showed an interest in science through his work as a bookbinder. He became an assistant to scientist Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution, where he began his research into electricity and magnetism. Through experiments with coils and iron rings, he discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and how changing magnetic fields can generate electric currents. His invention of the electric generator in 1831, which used a copper disk between magnet poles to produce a continuous electric current, allowed electricity to be efficiently produced and paved the way for widespread electrification.

1. Michael Faraday1791-1867

2. Early ChildhoodFaraday was born in 1791

3. Grew up near London in slums known as Newington Butts

4. His father was a blacksmith

5. Family was poor

6. Had very little education

7. Physically weakLife as a bookbinderPhysical handicap led him to bookbinding

8. Apprentice to master Georges Reibau

9. Reading and bookbinding

10. Encyclopedia Brittannica and Conversations on Chemistry

11. Sir Humphry DavyFaraday as a young man

12. Assistant to davyRoyal Institution Laboratory Assistant

13. Trip to Italy

14. Meeting with other Scientists

15. Return from the Continent

16. Promotion to SuperintendentFaraday’s breakthrough1831 Faraday starts research on electricity and magnetism

17. Experiments with coils of wire around an iron ring

18. Observes the changes in galvanometer induced by electric currentIron ring

19. discoveriesElectromagnetic Induction

20. Electrical field and electrical currents

21. How could he continuously create this phenomena?The next stepFaraday devised an experiment set-up to continuously change magnetic field

22. Puts a spinning copper disk between the poles of a magnet

23. Wires attached to disk and galvanometer

24. Motion converted to electrical energyFaraday’s electric generator

25. Importance of his discoveryThe electric generator allowed for electric energy to be produced without the consumption of chemical energy

26. Using turbines to produce electricity

27. Using water, steam, coal, oil, wind to power turbines

28. Electricity on a larger scaleModern electric turbine