In 1748 Jean-Antoine Nollet built an early electroscope, an electrometer comprised of a suspended pith ball that moves in response to the electrostatic attraction and repulsion of a charged body.
It was a metal box with isolated wire hung down and a piece of metal foil hanging down. With a special lense they amount of movement of the foil could be measured.
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600 BC – Attraction of static electricity – Thales of Miletos
Thales also observed that after rubbing amber with certain items it attracts small objects.
Amber is fossilized tree resin. It is hard transparent yellowish (amber) colored substance that was used for jewelery and buttons. We can reproduce Thales observations with other objects too.
The word electricity came from the latin word electrious which means to “produce from amber by friction”. Electrious has is root in the greek word for amberηλεκτρονelectron)ew,monospace;”>
Thales of Miletos was greek philosopher, mathematician and natural scientist in the 6th century BC. He observed that loadstones attracted iron.
A loadstone is a naturally occurring magnet. It is a form of iron ore that keeps it’s magnetic properties, perhaps after being struck by lighting. If iron is struck by lighting it will become magnetic for a short time. We can simulate Thales observations.
Exploring Magnetism and Electricity Through Time
Through experiments you can do at home.
This section take you through the discoveries in magnetism and electicity through time, in the order they where discovered. With experiments you can do at home to replicate the discoveries.
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