The Light Bulb (Group 3)

Thomas Alva Edison

Incandescent lamp ​is a device that produces light. This happens when any solid or gas is heated by combustion or resistance to an electric current. The colour of the light it gives off depends of the characteristic of the material used.

The first lamp created was as in 1858 with a carbon-arc lamp. It was never widely used because it requiered too much power.  The original model improved constantly: with the use of platinum strips by Sir Humpry Davy and  the use of powdered charcoal by Frederick de Moleyns, that didn't last long enough.

But between 1865 and 1880, the major improvement was made: the use of a mercury pump as a vacuum and a carbon-filament bulb that didn't melt. This invention was developed by Sir Joseph Wilson Swan but who received the major credit was Thomas Alva Edison for his work on ppower lines and other equipment needed to establish the incandescent lamp in a practical lighting system. It wasn't perfect, but thanks to them electric lighting became part of urban life by 1900.

The incandescent lamp was still improve, like with the  more efficient tungsten-filament and the bulbs being filled with inert gas, until the developement of the actual filament lamp and the more- efficient fluorescente lamp.

Thomas Alva Edison ​​was born in 1847 in the United States of America. He was an inventor andhe  had the record for the major number of patents under his name. He developed hearing problems at a young age, and it's said that it influenced his behaviour and carrer as a motivator for many of his inventions Some of his biggest achievments are the creation of the first industrial research laboratory, the carbon-button transmitter for the telephone speaker and microphone, and the incandescent lamp. He began his career in 1863 in the development of the telegraph industry. Before he died he played a critical role in introducing the modern age of electricity. He also worked on an experimental electric railroad, key elements of motion-picture apparatus (the origin of the cameras for video recording) and much more inventions. He died in 1931 at the age of 84.

When he verified his invention, he changed the world forever!

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Thomas Edison (Additional information)