(Como, Italy today, 1745 - id., 1827) Italian physicist who invented the first generating DC electric battery. From a young age he showed a great interest to the study of natural phenomena.
He received his early education in the Jesuit college in his hometown,
and in opposition to his parents, who wanted a lawyer, and teachers, who
wanted to bring the religious state, abandoned regular studies and
embarked on their own culture physics. At eighteen and maintained correspondence with leading European electrologists.
Alessandro Volta
From 1765-1769, with the help of his friend Guilio Cesare Gattoni,
priest, the study of electrical phenomena, who played very personally
was particularly devoted.
In 1767 he wrote about some observations and ideas about electricity
Giovan Battista Beccaria, professor of Turin, who not approved. Volta will then replied with his first printed text, De vi ignis attractiva ac elec phaenomenis inde pendentibus, I would consider the germ of all electric doctrine of Alessandro Volta.
In 1775, his interest in electricity led him to invent a device known as electrophorus, used to generate static electricity.
A year earlier he had been appointed professor of physics at the Royal
College of Como. In 1778 he identified and isolated methane gas, and the
following year became the chair of physics at the University of Pavia.
Alessandro Volta Google Doodle
In 1780, a friend of Volta, Luigi Galvani observed that the contact of
two different metals with the muscle of a frog originated the emergence
of electric current.
Volta conducted several experiments on the phenomena recorded by
Galvani, and after his initial enthusiasm began to doubt them and to
consider effect of nerve excitation caused by ordinary electricity. In 1794, Volta began experimenting with metals only, and concluded that animal tissue was not necessary to produce current. This finding was heavily disputed between supporters of animal electricity and defenders of the metal electricity.
First Volta Battery
By 1796-97, with the use of their electroscopes and its condenser, Alessandro Volta experimentally proved the existence of a power imbalance, which he called "tension" between any two dissimilar metals. This fundamental discovery led him to seek the multiplication of such imbalances through appropriate channels of contact conductors. In the course of investigations conducted for three years could see a number of properties that allowed the construction of the first electric battery. The demonstration, held in 1800, the operation of the first electric cell ended the previous controversies and certified the victory of pro Volta theses side; a triumph, which, however, did not alter the gracious serenity of illustrious scientist.A year later, Alessandro Volta made before Napoleon a further demonstration of its generator. Impressed, the French emperor named Volta Count and Senator of the Kingdom of Lombardy. The Emperor of Austria, meanwhile, appointed him director of the department of philosophy at the University of Padua in 1815. Discovered the stack, all activity of Volta was oriented towards the study of their strictly electrical properties such as intensity and conductivity field that already made some important progress and anticipated others.
Exceptional man by culture, breadth of view, force of wit, dialectical
force, experimental skill, moral rectitude and religious faith, the sage
died admired and cried throughout the world of science, and bequeathed
to posterity the example of his life and the great benefit of his work. The unit of electromotive force of the International System volt is named in his honor since 1881.
No comments:
Post a Comment