Thomas Edison

what else did Edison do

Also important, Edison figured out a way to generate electricity at central power stations and distribute it through power lines. The system he thought up gave homes and businesses access to cheap, reliable electricity. Edison eventually built his first power station in New York City and began supplying electricity to a growing number of customers.

what company did he found

The power company Edison founded soon became one of the largest corporations in the world. Today, it's known as General Electric!

what was tom in the gilded age

a major figure

what is a light bulb

an electric light with a wire filament heated at such a high temperature it glows with visible light.

what did he do with the money

he used it to set up his own lab in Menlo Park, NJ where he could spend his time developing his new tech. he hired assistants and worked constantly.

Inventions:

his early inventions were improvements to the telegraph. In 1874, the western union company paid him $10,000 for a telegraph that could handle 4 separate signals at the same time.

Edison's Jobs:

started his own business selling fruits and veggies, candy and newspapers to passengers since Port Huron was a big railroad town. As a teen, he left home to be a telegraph operator

how does the light bulb work

the current of electricity enters the light bulb, goes up the wires, heats the filament with such a high temperature it glows.

what did thomas do that made him famous

But Edison's greatest success involved electric lighting. Contrary to popular belief, Edison didn't invent the incandescent light bulb. But in 1879, he patented an improved version that lasted a lot longer than earlier models.

what was his first success

Edison's first big success came in 1877, when he invented the phonograph.

what was the first modern appliance

The Light Bulb

Thomas's childhood:

he was born in 1847 and grew up in Port Huron, Michigan. He was not a star student, his mom pulled him out to be home schooled because he asked too many questions and frustrated teachers. he only had 12 weeks of formal schooling. he read through most books at the local library.

what are other names for a light bulb

incandescent light bulb, incandescent light globe and incandescent lamp

how does the filament not oxidize

the filament is heated by an electrical current passing through it. It is protected from oxidation with a glass or fused quartz bulb that is filled with inert gas or evacuated.