Michael Faraday: Pioneer of Electricity and Magnetism
Written on
Chapter 1: Early Life and Education
Michael Faraday occupies a crucial position in the realm of science, particularly recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to electricity and magnetism, along with his dedication to science education.
Faraday was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington Butts, Surrey, to a blacksmith and his wife. This area is now part of Southwark, London. His formal education was limited, and he initially worked as a newspaper errand boy. At 14, he began a seven-year apprenticeship as a bookbinder, during which he developed a keen interest in chemistry while reading various books. This passion led him to attend lectures, and in his final apprenticeship year, he received tickets to lectures by Humphrey Davy, the Chemistry Professor at the Royal Institution.
Despite the advice to remain in bookbinding, Faraday aspired for a scientific career. He had the chance to assist Davy during a period of temporary blindness due to a lab accident, which later led to a job offer when a position became available in February 1813.
From October 1813 to April 1815, Faraday accompanied Davy and his entourage on a tour across Europe, where he visited renowned chemical laboratories in countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. This experience allowed him to connect with prominent scientists like André-Marie Ampère and Alessandro Volta. Upon his return to London, Faraday resumed his role at the Royal Institution, where he helped conduct demonstrations and assisted Davy in developing a safety lamp for miners.
Faraday eventually began delivering his own lectures at venues like the City Philosophical Society and the Society of Arts, where he would later become a co-chairman of the chemistry committee.
Section 1.1: Contributions at the Royal Institution
At the Royal Institution, Faraday engaged in chemical analyses for legal and insurance cases. Notably, in 1825, he discovered a new hydrogen-carbon compound, later named benzene.
In 1821, he married Sarah Barnard, the daughter of a silversmith, and they made their home in the Institution, where he had just been promoted to acting superintendent. That same year, he made a significant scientific discovery: electromagnetic rotation. He realized that a wire carrying an electric current would continuously rotate around a magnet submerged in mercury, laying the groundwork for the electric motor. This finding underscored the importance of experimental evidence in understanding electromagnetism.
However, tensions arose between Faraday and Davy in 1823 when Faraday published a paper without Davy's consent. Though Davy opposed Faraday's fellowship election to the Royal Society, Faraday succeeded in obtaining it.
Faraday became the Director of the Royal Institution Laboratory in 1825, where he focused on enhancing educational initiatives. One of his notable contributions was the establishment of Christmas Lectures for children in 1826, a tradition that continues to this day.
During the late 1820s, Faraday experienced frustration as he was often burdened with duties that detracted from his research time, particularly in improving optical glass, a task that primarily benefited Davy. In 1829, he accepted a part-time professorship at the Royal Military Academy, which provided him with financial independence and allowed him to focus more on his research following Davy's death.
Chapter 2: Major Discoveries
In August 1831, Faraday uncovered the principle of electromagnetic induction involving wire coils and magnets, leading to the invention of the transformer and dynamo. This work paved the way for the practical application of electricity.
He dedicated several years to exploring the relationship between electricity and chemistry, which resulted in important findings in electrolysis—the process of depositing substances from a solution onto a surface through electrical current. He also created the "Faraday cage," a twelve-foot wire-covered cube designed to study electric charge.
In the 1840s, Faraday's interest shifted to understanding magnetism, particularly why only iron and nickel exhibited this property. He aimed to demonstrate that magnetism was a characteristic of all matter (diamagnetism) and that it operated non-atomically across space. His experiments contributed to the foundation of the field theory of electromagnetism, introducing the concept of magnetic force lines.
Faraday also explored the magnetic properties of gases and the behavior of magnetism in crystals. He theorized that compass needles reacted as they did due to the magnetic properties of oxygen, a notion later proven incorrect. His final major investigation centered on fluorescence, although he could not explain the changes in light wavelengths when they passed through certain materials.
This video, titled "Michael Faraday: The Father of Electricity," delves into Faraday's life, focusing on his significant contributions to the field of electricity and how they laid the groundwork for modern science.
In this video, "How did Michael Faraday invent? – with David Ricketts," viewers can gain insights into Faraday's inventive processes and his remarkable journey through science.
His Later Life
In the 1850s and 1860s, Faraday dedicated considerable effort to enhancing lighthouse efficiency through electrification on behalf of Trinity House. His work included assessing and improving existing designs, although practical applications, particularly at the South Foreland lighthouse in Kent, proved unsustainable.
Faraday's health deteriorated during the 1860s, leading him to withdraw from his various responsibilities, including his last Christmas lectures in 1861/62. He declined an offer to become President of the Royal Institution in 1864 and passed away on August 25, 1867, at his home near Hampton Court, at the age of 75.
Faraday's legacy in electromagnetic induction solidifies his status as a monumental figure in science and engineering. He holds the distinction of being the only individual with two SI units named after him: the farad (for capacitance) and the faraday (for electric charge). His name graces numerous awards, lectures, and university buildings, and he is among the select few featured on a Bank of England banknote.
For more insights, check out my list on science topics.
Follow my Twitter for more links and quotes @welfordwrites.
Join Medium to explore more of my work and that of other writers. Your membership fee contributes to my work, so thank you!