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Nikola Tesla (1856–1943). Scientist & inventor
Affiliations- PhD4, Town End MeadowCartmelGrange-over-SandsCumbria LA1 6QG, United Kingdom
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Abstract
This paper presents a short review of the life and work of Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) commencing with his early life and education in Eastern Europe. The Tesla coil is described. His early work with alternating current (AC) is detailed together with his disagreements with Thomas Edison and the so-called War of the Currents. As with many X-ray experimenters in the year after Röntgen’s discovery in November 1895, Tesla lost interest in X-rays and moved his attention to radio transmission. He was able to obtain financial backing for his projects in the years at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, but thereafter eventually found it impossible. It was to be Marconi who made huge profits from radio transmission becoming standard science, and not Tesla who died virtually penniless. Although acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest inventors, his lack of financial acumen and some fantastic claims, also led him to be regarded as a mad scientist. His name is perpetuated with the Système International (SI) unit of magnetic flux density, the Tesla, denoted by the capital letter T.
Abstract
This paper presents a short review of the life and work of Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) commencing with his early life and education in Eastern Europe. The Tesla coil is described. His early work with alternating current (AC) is detailed together with his disagreements with Thomas Edison and the so-called War of the Currents. As with many X-ray experimenters in the year after Röntgen’s discovery in November 1895, Tesla lost interest in X-rays and moved his attention to radio transmission. He was able to obtain financial backing for his projects in the years at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, but thereafter eventually found it impossible. It was to be Marconi who made huge profits from radio transmission becoming standard science, and not Tesla who died virtually penniless. Although acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest inventors, his lack of financial acumen and some fantastic claims, also led him to be regarded as a mad scientist. His name is perpetuated with the Système International (SI) unit of magnetic flux density, the Tesla, denoted by the capital letter T.
Keywords
electric lighting, robotics, radio transmission, Tesla coil, induction motor, rotating magnetic field, electricity supply system, alternating current, X-rays…
About this articleTitle
Nikola Tesla (1856–1943). Scientist & inventor
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Pages
220-226
Published online
2017-12-12
Page views
1444
Article views/downloads
2160
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2017;67(3):220-226.
Keywords
electric lighting
robotics
radio transmission
Tesla coil
induction motor
rotating magnetic field
electricity supply system
alternating current
X-rays…
Authors
Richard F. Mould