EEE 31 Project

Group members: 1. Belmonte, Abner A. 2. Dastas, Mark Brian O. 3. dela Cruz, Angelie A. BS ECE BS ECE BS ECE 2010-29997 2010-33296 2010-08245

Chosen Topic: Who is the most influential scientist or inventor in the field of EEE? Answer: Michael Faraday Project Title: Michael Faraday: The Pioneer of Electricity and Magnetism Honor Code We pledge, upon our honor, to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility at the University of the Philippines. _________________________ A. A. Belmonte

_________________________ M. B. O. Dastas

__________________________ A. A. dela Cruz

Michael Faraday: The Pioneer of Electricity and Magnetism

Abner A. Belmonte, Mark Brian O. Dastas, and Angelie A. dela Cruz Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, University of the Philippines Michael Faraday was an English chemist and physicist who worked primarily in the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry [1]. A son of a blacksmith, Faraday received only elementary education. His only exposure to science came in the form of books, which he read from his job as an apprentice bookbinder. With limited knowledge of mathematics, he only relied on experiments for his research [2]. Thus, he is considered as the best experimentalist in the history of science [1]. Faraday has contributed many important developments in the field of science especially with regards to electricity. Hence he is regarded as the Father of Electrical Engineering [3]. Because of this, we believe that Michael Faraday is the most influential scientist in the field of electric and electronics engineering. This study aims to prove why he is the most influential by presenting examples and arguments to support the claim. The limitation of this study is that it will only focus on Faradays major contributions and nothing else.

Background of the study This study is based on the fact that Faradays experiments and discoveries laid down the foundations of electricity. He left a series of observations in physics and chemistry that guided research for most of the coming century [4]. Another one of Faradays most important discoveries is the electromagnetic induction, which prompted the influx of the Electrical Age. Without his contributions, electricity will be different from what we now know it as. Arguments Major components of electricity in the modern era include transformers, generators, and electric motors. With these devices, electricity is available to almost everyone. We all owe it to Faraday for making this possible. Faraday made the worlds first DC electric motor after an experiment involving a battery and dipping a metal wire into mercury post [5]. After the DC electric motor, he then discovered transformers, and was able to convert magnetism into electricity. Afterwards, he discovered the DC generator and finally the alternator. These inventions were then further developed and improved into the devices we now have [6]. Another thing to know about Faraday is that he was a supporter of the law of conservation of energy. Driven by the desire to convert magnetism into electricity, he

discovered electromagnetic induction in 1831. Transformers, generators, and electric motors all utilize electromagnetic induction. In his experiment, he showed that voltage can be produced across a conductor that is moving across a magnetic field. This is regarded one of his most important discoveries, as this underlies the operation of generators, all electric motors, transformers, induction motors, synchronous motors, solenoids and most other electrical machines [7]. This discovery also led to further developments, such as the recognition of self-induced currents, polarity in diamagnetic bodies, lines and fields of electric force, and the use of current as a measure of field intensity [4]. Results of Faradays experiments were generalized and established into a law called Faradays Law of Induction [8]. Faradays Law of Induction is the quantitative expression of the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction which was studied and observed by Faraday himself [9]. Faradays Law states that in a closed circuit, the rate of change of magnetic flux in the circuit is proportional to the induced EMF in the circuit [8]. This is considered as one of the basic laws in electromagnetism; it is very important in electrical and electronics engineering since it explains how electrical machines such as motors, generators, transformers and inductors work and operate [8]. Experimental and curious despite his lack of education and particularly minimal knowledge in mathematics, Faraday managed to come up ideas on the electromagnetic field. His lack of mathematical prowess actually lead him to his advantage of not being confounded with complicated formulae, thus conceiving a theoretical picture of a puzzling physical phenomenon. Before Faraday, electric, magnetic, and gravitational forces were considered as acting across empty space, separating the interacting forces. For him, action in distance did not make any physical sense so in order to visualize the forces acting between the charges and the magnets; he had to imagine the space between them as being filled by something which could pull or push. He used rubberlike tubes with magnets to study this phenomenon. Though these ideas of Faraday were too qualitative, it opened a new era in the development of physics which is the concept of field of forces or simply a field [2]. If not for his work in electromagnetism, our life could have been different from today. Electric motors, generators, transformers and power plants that we can see and utilize today would probably very different or may still be in the process of discovery. Laithwaite (1991) reiterates this. According to him, even if Faraday didnt invent the electric motor, someone else would have done so. The main difference, however, is that it would have taken a different amount of time and history would be different [6].

Because of his exceptional work in comparing the dielectric properties of certain materials such as oil, sulfur, shellac, and glass to air, the International Electrical Commission recognized this feat in an 1891 meeting held in Paris, France by naming the unit of capacitance after him, called the Farad (F) [4]. To honor his work in electrochemistry, another unit, the Faraday, was also named after him, making him one of few scientists who have more than one unit named after them [4]. It is equivalent to the magnitude of electric charge carried per one gram-molecule of an ionized substance [4] or the Avogadros constant (NA) multiplied by the charge of an electron (e), approximately 96485.339 C/mol [10]. Faradays advances in his research with electricity lead him to add new electrochemical nomenclature. He said in the Introduction to the Seventh Series of the Experimental Researches that he was going to introduce a new set of terms in order to avoid confusion and circumlocution, and for the sake of greater precision of expression than I can otherwise obtain. With the help of his personal physician and friend, Dr. Whitlock Nicholl and Rev. Robert Willis of Caius College, Cambridge, he came up new terms in electricity such as electrolyte, electrolysis, electrode, anode and cathode, ion, anion, and cation [11]. Many scientists hold Faraday in high regard. Sir William Henry Brag, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics 1915, said The principal result of Faradays labours is our ability to use electricity. Prometheus, they say, brought fire to the service of mankind; electricity, we owe to Faraday. Furthermore, Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics, said that I believe that future generations have yet as much to learn as has been learned in the past from Faradays conception of the electromagnetic field. Humphry Davy, also an accomplished scientist, was asked in his death bed: Sir, what do you regard as your greatest discovery? to which Davy replied Michael Faraday [6]. Due to Faradays lack of education in higher mathematics, he did not express his theories and experiments in mathematical form. He used visuals to explain his findings; therefore, mathematicians could not understand his works. It was James Maxwell who managed to interpret Faradays works into a more understandable mathematical language [12]. Maxwell was inspired to work in the field of electricity after he attended a lecture by Faraday in 1846 [13]. At the time they met, Faradays health was already in deteriorating [14]. Due to his respect for Faraday, Maxwell decided to continue Faradays works. In this aspect, we can see Faraday managed to exert his influence on Maxwell to continue on his findings and interpret them to the mathematical community.

Faraday laid the foundations of the study of electromagnetism which scientists after him utilized in order to further develop the field of electronics and electrical engineering. Because of this he was named as the Father of Electrical Engineering [3].

Conclusion Based on the data gathered, we can say that Michael Faraday is the most influential scientist in the field of electronics and electrical engineering. Without his contributions, there would not be much progress in electronics and electrical engineering as compared to now. Faradays development of the principle of electromagnetic induction paved the way for the discovery of electric motors, generators, transformers and other electrical machines [4]. Also, without Faraday, the electrical terms ion, anode, cathode, anion, cation and electrolysis would not have existed [12]. Faradays discoveries and experiments are important because scientists such as Maxwell who came after him based their works on his discoveries. This resulted in the expansion of the field of electrical and electronics engineering.

References
[1] Free lecture makes science accessible. Internet: http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/2006/10/25/gulpford251006.html, Oct. 25, 2006 [Mar.12 2011]. [2] Gamow, George. The Age of Electricity in Biography of Physics, Harper Modern Science Series. J. R. Newman, Ed. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1961, pp. 139-151. [3] Fahie, J. J. (1931, Nov.). Magnetism, Electricity and Electromagnetism up to the Time of the Crowning Work of Michael Faraday in 1831: A Retrospect. Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. [On-line]. 69(416), pp. 1331-1357. Available: (http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5315504&isnumber=5315498) [Mar. 11, 2011]. [4] Dibner, Bern. (1967, Aug.). Michael Faraday a centennial. IEEE Spectrum. [On-line]. 4(8), pp. 114-119. Available: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5215534&isnumber=5215503 [Mar. 11, 2011]. [5] The first electric motor. Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motor#The_first_electric_motor, [Mar. 17, 2011]. [6] Laithwaite, Eric R. (1991, Sept.). The influence of Michael Faraday on power engineering. Power Engineering Journal. [On-line]. 5(5), pp. 209-219. Available: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=93852&isnumber=3069 [Mar. 11, 2011]. [7] Electromagnetic Induction. Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction, [Mar. 13, 2011]. [8] Faradays Law of Induction. Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday%27s_law_of_induction, [Mar. 17 2011]. [9] Faradays Law of Induction. Internet: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/201744/Faradays-lawof-induction, [Mar. 18, 2011]. [10] Faraday constant. Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_constant, [Mar. 13, 2011]. [11] Williams, Leslie Pearce. The Nature of Electricity (2) in Michael Faraday: a biography. New York: Basic Books Inc., 1965, pp. 257-269. [12] Lienhard, J. H. No. 905: Maxwell and Faraday. Internet: http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi905.htm, 1997 [Mar. 18, 2011]. [13] Michael Faraday. Internet: http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/t-michael-faraday.aspx, [Mar. 18, 2011]. [14] Asiado, Tel. James Clerk Maxwell Biography. Internet: http://www.suite101.com/content/james-clerkmaxwell-biography-a53481, May 8 2010 [Mar. 18, 2011].