EVIDENCIA GA3-240202501-AA1-EV03- CRÓNICA
FICHA:2832258
FREDDY GARCÉS GARCIA
INSTRUCTORA: ROSA CHAMORRO
SENA
2024
CHRONICLE
Nikola Tesla: Pioneer of Electricity and Innovation
Birth and Early Years
Nikola Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in Smiljan, in what is now Croatia, then part
of the Austrian Empire. From a young age, Tesla showed exceptional intellectual
ability and a deep interest in science and engineering. His father was an Orthodox
priest, and his mother, although without formal education, was an inventor with a great
memory, qualities Tesla inherited.
Education and Early Engineering Career
Tesla studied electrical engineering at the Technical University of Graz and the
University of Prague. During his studies, he became fascinated with the phenomenon
of alternating current (AC), which would later become one of his major contributions
to the field of electricity.
Early Career in Europe
After his studies, Tesla worked for several electrical companies in Europe, including
the Continental Edison Company in Paris, where he gained practical experience in
electrical and mechanical engineering.
Arrival in the United States and Work with Edison
In 1884, Tesla emigrated to the United States and began working with Thomas Edison
in New York. Although both were brilliant inventors, their approaches and personalities
were very different, leading to conflicts. Edison was dedicated to direct current (DC),
while Tesla firmly believed in the advantages of alternating current (AC). After a
dispute over compensation for improving Edison’s machines, Tesla left the company.
Development of Alternating Current
After leaving Edison's company, Tesla found support from George Westinghouse, a
businessman who shared his vision for alternating current. Together, Tesla and
Westinghouse developed and promoted AC systems, which eventually became the
standard for electricity distribution due to their efficiency and ability to transmit
electricity over long distances.
Inventions and Contributions
Tesla was a prolific inventor and made numerous advances in various areas of science
and technology:
1.-Induction Motor and AC Transformer (1887-1888): Tesla patented his AC induction
motor and transformer, which were fundamental to the AC power transmission system.
2.-Tesla Coil (1891): A device for generating high-frequency alternating current, used
in radio, X-rays, and other technologies.
3.-Fluorescent and Neon Lighting: Tesla experimented with and patented several
lighting devices, including fluorescent and neon lights.
4.-Radio and Wireless Communications: Tesla made significant contributions to radio
technology and pioneered the idea of wireless power transmission.
5.-Wireless Power System: Tesla spent years trying to develop a system to transmit
electricity without wires, a revolutionary idea that he could not commercially succeed
with in his time.
Later Years and Legacy
Despite his revolutionary contributions, Tesla was not a successful businessman and
faced financial difficulties in his later years. He spent much of his life in New York
hotels, working on new ideas and projects.
Nikola Tesla died on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86, in the solitude of his room at
the New Yorker Hotel. Although he died without great wealth, his legacy is immense.
Tesla's innovations laid the groundwork for many modern technologies, and today he
is widely recognized as one of the greatest engineers and inventors of all time.
The unit of magnetic field strength, the "tesla," was named in his honor, and his vision
and discoveries continue to inspire scientists and engineers worldwide.
