Thomas EdisonThe Wizard Of Menlo Park

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

Your TaskYou 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.

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

Edison• Biography

-The Early Years

-Becoming An Inventor

-Current Wars

-The Later Years

• Inventions-Light Bulb

-Phonograph

-Movie Camera

-Direct Current

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

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?

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.

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

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.

Edison’s Inventions

Invention Year Place Description

Stock Ticker 1869 New York CityStock 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 ManhattanGenerates residential power

Kinetoscope 1888-1889 West OrangeMoving 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?

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 Edison make to the light bulb?

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 idea for the phonograph? What would it be used for? Did he need help creating his idea?

Back to “Becoming An Inventor”

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?

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 of this amazing machine.

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.

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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 society?

Back to “Current Wars”

Edison Vs. TeslaEdison's Invention RateIncandescent Light Bulb 4

Phonograph 5

Kinetoscope 5

DC Electric Dynamo 3

Stock Ticker 1

Total 18

Tesla's InventionsAC Motor 3

Tesla Coil 3

Radio 5

Remote Control 3

High Voltage Lighting 5

Total 19

Edison & Tesla 37

Back to “Current Wars”

The End

By: Ken BrewerMCOMM 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

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