BACKGROUND RESEARCH

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." -Thomas Edison. In the experiment called the Edison Bulb Inspired by Thomas Edison, we will create a simulation of how the electric light bulb works. We will create a board with cables and a battery to let the flow of electricity reach the light bulb. The experiment is very simple and fun to do.Everyone can try and do it. The experiment consists of main point which are electricity current, switches, and obviously the light bulb. Edison’s Light Bulb was a major breakthrough in human history, as light became more available and long lasting. This experiment shows us the relative simple yet long process to create a vacuum light bulb.

A brief history of the light bulb is that In October 21, 1879 Thomas Edison invented the first commercially viable electric light bulb. Although the light bulb had already been created in 1809 by Humphrey Davy. Light bulb used to light for a short time, but then Sir Joseph Wilson Swan created a light bulb that lasted for 13.5 hours. Edison light bulb made the light bulb last over a 100 hours, and additional improvements made it last over 1500 hours.

In this experiment we used simple household items to create a simple-design light bulb. We used various different materials as cables to connect the light bulb. Many of these materials included from copper wire, tungsten wire, and even mechanical pencil replacements. We learned from this that depending on the material of the material used, is the current we allowed to pass. For example if we use tungsten wire then it is more capable to withstand high currents of electricity compared to mechanical pencil replacements. Also different currents were used in this experiment to create light, but only after a certain current of 20 watts the light bulb actually turned on. After 26 watts the connection between the metal clamps connecting the light together burnt out.

The electric light wasn’t Thomas Edison’s first invention, nor was he the first to create an alternative to gaslight. Electric lights already existed on a streetlight scale when, on this day in 1879, Edison tested the one he’s famous for. Though he didn’t come up with the whole concept, his light bulb was the first that proved practical, and affordable, for home illumination. The trick had been choosing a filament that would be durable but inexpensive, and the team at Edison’s “invention factory” in Menlo Park, New Jersey, tested more than 6,000 possible materials before finding one that fit the bill: carbonized bamboo. Thomas Edison quoted:

“As there is no oxygen to burn,” said Mr. Edison, “you can readily see that this piece of carbon will last an ordinary life-time. It has the property of resisting the heat of the current of electricity, while at the same time it becomes incandescent, and gives out one of the most brilliant lights which the world has ever seen. The cost of preparing one of these little horse-shoes of carbon is about 1 cent, and the entire lamp will cost not more than 25 cents.”

In conclusion, from this experiment we learned many things, not only from the science of light and currents, but also from the history of Edison’s dedication to his invention. If he would not have created this light bulb, there would be a major setback in human history. Edison’s light bulb is the world’s most important invention to date.

Bibliography:

Oxlade, Chris (2011). The Light Bulb. Heinemann. Book 256-258.

Thomas Edison. A&E Networks Television. Retreived from Biography.com

Tyler, Mark. The light bulb. Capstone, 2004. Aug 1, 2003. Book. December 11, 2016.

Walsh, Bryan. The Making of America: Thomas Edison. Time.Time Inc. June 23, 2010. Web. November 29, 2016.

What is the function of connecting wires?Reference.com. September 2017. Web. December 28 2016.