Hey again!
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Let's talk about something that people known throughout electricity history! You know what it is?
THE BATTLE OF THE CURRENTS!!!!!! Nicola Tesla VS. Thomas Edison! Who will win the battle?
Here is some history about how the battle started.
Thomas Edison was known for creating the light-bulb. He also made a power system. He created Americas first direct current (DC) power plant in New York City in 1882.
At the time, people thought that electricity was scary. Edison decided to make something to make people see that is wasn't scary. He hired somebody to tap-dance on an electrified floor. When the dancer touched the floor, the light-bulb hat on his head lit up!
In 1884, Nicola Tesla came to New York. He asked Edison if he could improve his design. Edison said he would give him 50,000 dollars (That's a million in today's money.) if he was successful. A few months later, Tesla finished the improvements he promised. Instead of giving Tesla the money, Edison just said "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor." It was all a joke! Instead, he offered 10 dollars a week in his salary, but Tesla was so furious, he quit his job.
Edison's popularity grew as he gained more and more customers, but there was a problem with the system. If you were within range of the power plant, you would have had enough power for your house. DC loses power over long distances. If you live in a house a little more than a mile away from the plant, you wouldn't have enough power for an electric toothbrush!! (Too bad there were no electric toothbrushes back then.)
Nicola Tesla decided to take on DC. How did he do it? WITH ALTERNATING CURRENT!!!!
Instead of flowing in one direction like DC, the current alternates in zigzags(Hence the name AC.).
In 1888, Tesla invented and patented an AC motor and power system. The WEMC (Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company) hired Tesla to make AC motors. AWESOME!!!
That wasn't good for Edison, so he decided to make up rumors about bad accidents with AC. He even told people to use word "Westinghoused" instead of "electrocuted." The worst part was, he shocked stray dogs and cats with AC to show how dangerous it was too! (HE'S A BIG, BIG JERK!!!!)
He was kind of right about how dangerous it was. He was wrong about one thing. When AC reaches a home to power it, it's safe to use.
Alternating current didn't have much popularity, but the advantages were hard to ignore. 5 years later, Tesla's AC system beat Edison's DC system. Tesla made a power plant at Niagara Falls that made AC power. It was the first plant that used water to create electricity. was worth tons of money to build the power plant. In 1896, Tesla flipped the switch and the plant was powered! Years after, people were using AC in New York for years! AC WON THE BATTLE OF THE CURRENTS!!!!
AC may have won the battle of the currents, but we use AC and DC power everyday. Any electronic devices use DC. Computers, TV's, and other things have AC adapters in them to turn AC into DC to work. After the battle of the currents, Edison and Tesla never worked together again. They were both geniuses everyone will remember.
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I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did please like and comment. In the next post I'll be talking about my hand-crank flashlight. Bye guys! <3 ^_^
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