Thomas Edison's Early Life
When was Thomas Edison born?
Thomas Edison was born in 1847.
Who is often credited for the invention of the light bulb?
Thomas Edison is mostly credited for the invention of the light bulb.
What was the main problem with Warren de la Rue's 1840 design?
It was too costly to mass produce platinum.
What was one of the key improvements Edison made to the light bulb's filament?
Edison used a high-resistance filament that improved the bulb's efficiency and lifespan.
How did Joseph Swan's light bulb design affect its lifespan?
The gases trapped inside the bulb caused soot buildup, shortening the bulb’s lifespan.
What is Thomas Edison's most famous "invention?"
Who is Joseph Swan?
Joseph Swan was a British inventor.
What was a significant problem with Joeph Swan's early design?
The design had high electrical resistance which caused hardship in getting the current across safely.
How did Edison improve the vacuum inside light bulbs
Edison created a better seal and reduced the amount of gas inside the bulb, which helped prevent the filament from burning out quickly.
What was one of the main issues with Joseph Swan's bulb design regarding electrical resistance?
The high electrical resistance caused inefficiency and problems in maintaining consistent current.
Did Thomas Edison "invent" the light bulb?
No, he only improved it.
When did Joseph Swan begin working on the incandescent light bulb?
He started making the light bulb in the early 1850s.
What was one of the main issue that led to the short lifespan of of the early light bulbs?
The gases released by the filament bulb formed ssot which shortened the life of the bulb.
How did Edison’s improvements make the light bulb more suitable for mass production?
Edison made the light bulb cheaper and easier to produce by improving the materials, design, and manufacturing process.
Why were Joseph Swan's light bulbs not practical for widespread use?
The bulb’s short lifespan and high cost made it difficult to use for widespread adoption.
Where did Thomas Edison's research of the light bulb for taken place at?
Most of Thomas Edison's work took place at Menlo Park.
What was Nikola Tesla's area of study in electricity?
Tesla explored alternating currents (AC).
Why was electrical resistance in Joseph Swan's bulb a problem?
It limited the flow of electricity.
What was one reason Edison's light bulb was considered practical and inexpensive?
Edison made the light bulb durable and affordable, allowing it to be produced in large quantities.
In what decade did Joseph Swan develop his incandescent light bulb?
Joseph Swan developed his light bulb in the 1850s.
What is one reason Thomas Edison is credited for the light bulb?
He is credited for the invention of the light bulb because his imporovement made the light bulb affordalble and available for mass production.
What material did Warren de la Rue use for his filament in his 1840 design?
He used platinum for his filament.
Why were early electric light bulbs not available for mass production?
Early light bulbs were expensive, had a short lifespan, and had the wrong materials.
What was the significance of Edison’s work at Menlo Park?
Menlo Park was where Edison and his team developed practical, mass-producible light bulbs that could be used globally.
What was one significant flaw in Joseph Swan's early light bulb design that Edison helped fix?
Swan’s bulb suffered from high electrical resistance and short bulb life due to soot, which Edison resolved by improving the filament and vacuum technology.