Part IV — Chapter 12
The Electrical Age
Edison, Tesla, and the electrification of civilization
12.1 Edison and the Light Bulb
Thomas Edison (1847–1931) developed a practical incandescent light bulb and built the first commercial power station at Pearl Street, New York (1882). He championed direct current (DC) for power distribution.
12.2 Tesla and Alternating Current
Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) invented the AC induction motor and polyphase power system. With backing from George Westinghouse, alternating current won the "War of Currents" and became the standard for long-distance power transmission.
12.3 Georg Ohm & the Quantification of Electricity
Georg Ohm (1789–1854) established Ohm's Law (V = IR), quantifying the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. His work, initially rejected, became foundational to electrical engineering.