Nikola Tesla Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nikola Tesla - Research Paper Example history. I will also focus on the question of why many people would say Tesla was a mad scientist later in his life. Nikola Tesla: Biography in Brief Nikola Tesla was born 10 July 1856 in a Serbian family. The place of his birth was the village of Smiljan situated near Gospic – a town in Croatia that was a part of Austria-Hungary at that time. Tesla’s father was known to be a clergyman, and his mother is described as â€Å"exceptionally bright and an inventor of household and farm implements† despite being illiterate (Klooster 302). Tesla might have got his knack for prolific inventing from his ingenious mother. Tesla, who is believed to be America’s most prominent electric engineer, studied engineering at the famous University of Graz (Austria) (Spencer 301). He is thought to have started his inventing career there. In 1882, Tesla came to Paris and was hired by Continental Edison Company. Two years later Tesla immigrated to the U.S. and got his citizenshi p in 1891 at the age of 35 (Klooster 302). Picture 1. Nikola Tesla at the age of 37. Photo taken in 1893. Author: Sarony of New York It was in 1882 that Tesla conceived of the famous induction motor that has a rotating magnetic field. From that time on, Tesla invented various devices that utilize the rotating magnetic field. In 1888, Tesla received patents for his inventions. Here it is worth mentioning that the outstanding engineer and physicist was able to completely visualize his next invention before he started working on it. All in all, Tesla is believed to have patented over 700 inventions during his lifetime (World of Invention, â€Å"Nikola Tesla†). Tesla’s Theoretical Work and Patents Tesla's numerous patents and his groundbreaking theoretical work are believed to have created the basis of modern AC systems, which includes the polyphase power distribution systems, as well as the AC motor. Let us explore Tesla’s contribution to modern electrical engineer ing in detail. It was not until Tesla could establish his own company named Tesla Electric Company (1887) that the outstanding inventor had been able to create what he actually wanted. Specifically, working for Tesla Electric Company he invented the first successful polyphase motor (Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present,â€Å"Nikola Tesla†). Tesla achieved this by creating a motor that had a few wire-taped blocks surrounding the rotor. At the moment alternating current is being supplied to the incorporated wires, a rotating magnetic field is produced, and besides current to every block was a bit out of phase with the rest. The rotor’s movement is achieved as the revolving field is being followed (Klooster 305). Practically, the significance of Tesla’s invention was that it enabled transmitting strong electrical currents over long distances. Theoretically, Tesla’s work undermined the view of Edison that there was no practical benefit from alternating current. It proved to leave behind the invention by Edison – direct current – that was restricted by local use and needed lots of electrical relay stations in order to have the current distributed throughout a large area, a city for example (Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present,â€Å"Nikola Tesla†). Reportedly, not long before his death Edison admitted to making the biggest mistake in his lifetime