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The Miraculous Origins of Electricity: How did electricity change the world in the 19th century?
In the 19th century, the use of electricity began to flourish, marking one of the most significant turning points in human history. With the commercialization of telegraph, telephone and electricity production, the emerging discipline of electrical engineering came into being, which completely changed the way people live and produce.
People have never been so dependent on electricity. This invisible force affects our daily lives, from the lights in our homes to the production lines in large factories.
The discovery and use of electricity can be traced back to the 17th century, but it was not until the early 19th century that breakthroughs in scientific experiments made the practical application of electricity technology possible. For example, in 1816, Francis Ronalds created a telegraph system and in his design foresaw how electricity would change the world. His vision came true, and with the creation of a global telegraph network, unimaginable instant communication became possible.
In the 19th century, many basic theories related to electricity emerged. In 1820, Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that electric current can generate a magnetic field, further promoting the study and application of electromagnetism. Later, Michael Faraday discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction and proposed the preliminary concept of the electric motor. These discoveries laid a solid foundation for subsequent electrical engineering.
With the publication of James Clerk Maxwell's "A Unified Theory of Electricity and Magnetism" in 1873, the science of electricity finally matured and became an independent discipline.
In addition to breakthroughs in scientific theory, electrical engineering in the 19th century also witnessed many major inventions and experiments. The "War of Currents" between Thomas Edison's direct current system and George Westinghouse's alternating current system was not only a technological competition, but also an impact on the future application of electricity. Eventually, AC became the dominant electrical power standard due to its ability to be transmitted efficiently over long distances.
By 1882, Edison started up the world's first large-scale power system in New York City, providing direct current to 59 users, marking the beginning of a new era of commercial electricity operation. With the popularization of electricity in cities, social structure and economic model have begun to undergo profound changes, factory operating efficiency has been greatly improved, and the quality of life of residents has also been significantly improved.
Electricity is not just an energy source. It changed the way people think and live in the 19th century and was a real social revolution.
Entering the 20th century, the evolution of power technology accelerated further, and the development of radio communications made information transmission more convenient. All of this was based on the cornerstone of 19th century power engineering. With the advancement of electrical science, various emerging sub-fields of electrical engineering such as communication engineering, control engineering and electronic engineering have also emerged. The interaction between these disciplines has led to the rapid development of science and technology.
Whether from a technological perspective or a life perspective, the widespread use of electricity in the 19th century did change the face of human civilization. It lays the foundation for the operation of modern society and drives every step of scientific and technological progress. Electricity seems to be taken for granted today, but looking back at history, one can't help but wonder: How will electricity continue to affect the way we live and work in the future world?
