Thomas Edison was a prominent American inventor in the late 19th century. The document discusses Edison's early life and career, including his work establishing Menlo Park laboratories, where he invented the phonograph and worked to develop electric power distribution through his development of the light bulb and direct current (DC) power. It also notes his rivalry with inventor Nikola Tesla in the "current wars" over DC and alternating current (AC) technologies, and provides links to learn more about Edison's inventions and their impacts.

1. Thomas Edison
The Wizard Of Menlo Park

2. You will study the life of Thomas
Alva Edison. Thomas Edison was
a very prominent inventor. His
innovative ideas and inventions
changed the way of the life for
Americans and the entire world.
But, there are a lot of things you
might not know about Thomas
Edison. Did he really invent the
light bulb? Were all of his
inventions his own ideas? Was
he really the greatest inventor
of his time?
Introduction

3. Your Task
You will navigate through this web
quest on Thomas Edison. You will
create a power point essay on Thomas
Edison’s impact on society. You will
present your essay to the class along
with one visual aid to support your
essay.

4. Timeline Of Events
• Day 1: Navigate through the Edison Webquest. Jot
down any pertinent information.
• Day 2: Analyze the information you wrote down
from the web quest. Create a storyboard of your
power point presentation.
• Day 3: Review the web quest on Thomas Edison. Jot
down anymore information you feel is pertinent to
your presentation. Begin creating your final
presentation
• Day 4: Finish your final presentation.
• Day 5: Present your essay to the class

5. Edison
• Biography
-The Early Years
-Becoming An Inventor
-Current Wars
-The Later Years
• Inventions
-Light Bulb
-Phonograph
-Movie Camera
-Direct Current

6. The Early Years – Menlo Park
• Thomas Alva Edison
was born in Melan,
Ohio February 11th
1847.
He was generally known
as “Al”. He was the
youngest of seven
children to Sam and
Nancy Edison.
• Was he a good student?
Was he well-educated?
• Click here to find out more

7. Becoming An Inventor
• In 1876 Edison opened a
lab in Menlo Park, NJ. It
was here that he became
known as “The Wizard Of
Menlo Park”. And it was
also here created his first
great invention…
The phonograph.
• What else led to Edison becoming an inventor?

8. Current Wars
• Edison battled for electrical supremacy with a great another
great inventor named Nikola Tesla. Edison invented D.C. Current
and Tesla invented A.C. Current. Eventually Tesla’s Alternating
Current won out. But, the war between the two was ugly.
Find out more about this futile battle.

9. Edison publically electrocuted an elephant to
show that AC current is too dangerous for
public use.

10. The Later Years
• Edison died at in his
home in West Orange, NJ
on October 13th
1931. As
his health declined he
was not able to work in
his lab as he would have
liked. But, he was still had
many accomplishments
during the latter years of
his life.
Learn more about those accomplishments here.
In this video, Edison reflects on his most prominent inventions.

11. Edison’s Inventions
Invention Year Place Description
Stock Ticker 1869 New York City
Stock prices provided
through telegraphy
Phonograph 1877 Menlo Park Voice recorder
Light Bulb 1879 Menlo Park
Carbon filament in
vacuum tube creates
illumination
Power Station 1880’s Manhattan
Generates residential
power
Kinetoscope 1888-1889 West Orange
Moving Pictures with
sound
Edison had 1,093 patents. Here is a list of his major inventions.
Research Edisons other patents. Did he have any failed inventions?

12. The Light Bulb
• Contrary to what you
might have heard, Edison
did not invent the light
bulb. Edison improved on
the light bulb. But, his
new design made the
light bulb more efficient
and practical.
• What improvements did Ediso

13. The Phonograph
• The phonograph was one of
Edison’s first patented
inventions and his favorites.
And when you consider the
many intricate, working
parts it is amazing to think
that the idea was soley his
own.
• How did he come up with the ide
Back to “Becoming An Inventor”

14. Movie Camera
• Not only was Edison not the inventor of the first movie
camera. In fact, he refused on offer by Edward
Muybridege to create such a contraption.
• Edison’s laboratory was credited for the invention.
But, just how involved was Edison?

15. Kinetoscope • The first movie camera
was actually called the
Kinetoscope. The film
was 18mm wide and
ran continuously
between two spools. A
shutter and aperture
were also used to help
give the illusion of
movement.
• Study the intricate workings o

16. DC Current
• Despite losing the
“current war” to Nikola
Tesla, DC Current is still
widely used in electronic
equipment everywhere.
• No matter who won the
war. This invention
brought electricity into
the homes of all people.
• What is the difference between AC and DC Current?
A diagram of the first DC Dynamo.
To
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17. Tesla: Master Of Lightning
• Nikola Tesla was severely
overshadowed by Thomas
Edison during their time.
And caused a lot of that by
discrediting AC Current. So,
unfortunately, Tesla did not
make the history books and
is not well known by most
Americans.
• What other inventions did he create that have impacted socie
Back to “Current Wars”

18. Edison Vs. Tesla
Edison's Invention Rate
Incandescent Light Bulb 4
Phonograph 5
Kinetoscope 5
DC Electric Dynamo 3
Stock Ticker 1
Total 18
Tesla's Inventions
AC Motor 3
Tesla Coil 3
Radio 5
Remote Control 3
High Voltage Lighting 5
Total 19
Edison & Tesla 37
Back to “Current Wars”

20. The End
By: Ken Brewer
MCOMM 510
Resources:
www.inventors.about.com
www.inventions.about.com
www.memory.loc.gov
www.pbs.org
www.Wikipedia.com
www.wisegeek.com
Remember When: It Will
Never Fly, HBO Special
To Rubric