ClipArt ETC
Two oppositely rotating glass discs connected to seperate Leyden jars generate electricity. -Atkinson 1903

Whimhurst Machine

Two oppositely rotating glass discs connected to seperate Leyden jars generate electricity. -Atkinson…

The first two-fluid cell was incented by Daniell, and English electrician in 1836..." -Atkinson 1903

Daniel Cell

The first two-fluid cell was incented by Daniell, and English electrician in 1836..." -Atkinson 1903

"The electric resistance of the porous cup employed in the Daniel cell, and the local action produced by the material of which is it composed, led to the invention of similar cells in which it is dispensed with, the gravity cell." --Atkinson 1903

Gravity Cell

"The electric resistance of the porous cup employed in the Daniel cell, and the local action produced…

"When a dynamo is so constructed that only a smal part of its current is employed to magnetize its field-magnet, it is called shunt wound, because the magnetizing current is diverted from the main circuit through a shunt circuit." -Atkinson 1903

Shunt Wound Dynamo

"When a dynamo is so constructed that only a smal part of its current is employed to magnetize its field-magnet,…

"Where a motor is connected with the electric circuit of a dynamo...and the armature of the dynamo is rotated by mechanical power in opposition to the electromagnetic force, an electric current is generated, which tranverses the motor and causes its armature to rotate..." -Atkinson 1903

Connected dynamo and motor

"Where a motor is connected with the electric circuit of a dynamo...and the armature of the dynamo is…

Arc lighting, which used two carbon rods conducting electricity to produce light. -Atkinson 1903

Carbon Arc Lighting

Arc lighting, which used two carbon rods conducting electricity to produce light. -Atkinson 1903

"One of the simplest instruments of this kind consists of a metallic needle, terminated at each end by a light pith-ball, which is covered with gold leaf, and supported horizontally at its centre by a fine point.." -Comstock 1850

Electroscope

"One of the simplest instruments of this kind consists of a metallic needle, terminated at each end…

"Thus, if we suppose the conducting wire be placed in a vertical situation, as shown, and p, n, the current of positive electricity to be descending through it, from p to n, and if throught the point c in the wire in the plane NN be taken, perpendicular to p, n, that is in the present case a horiczontal plane, then if any number of circles be described in that plane, having c for thier common centre, the action of the current on the wire on upon the north pole of the magnet, will be to move it in a direction corresponding to the motion of the hands of a watch, having the dial towards the positive pole of the battery." -Comstock 1850

Circular Motion of the [Electric] Fluid

"Thus, if we suppose the conducting wire be placed in a vertical situation, as shown, and p, n, the…

"A type of battery used to produce electricity.." -Comstock 1850

Galvanic Battery

"A type of battery used to produce electricity.." -Comstock 1850

"Take the zinc from the tumbler of acid and, while it is yet wet, rub thereon a few drops of mercury...replace the zinc in the acid, and notice that no bubbles are given off. Place a copper strip in the solution...bring the strips together at their upper ends as shown. Connect the metals and observe the result." -Avery 1895

Current Electricity

"Take the zinc from the tumbler of acid and, while it is yet wet, rub thereon a few drops of mercury...replace…

"Machine used to generate electricity by induction using transformed kinetic energy from the crank." -Avery 1895

Induction Machine

"Machine used to generate electricity by induction using transformed kinetic energy from the crank."…

"The Wimhurst machine is used to generate small amounts of static electricity which are then stored in attached Leyden jars." -Avery 1895

Wimhurst Machine

"The Wimhurst machine is used to generate small amounts of static electricity which are then stored…

"The arc lamp is essentially a device for automatically separating the carbons when the current is turned on, for 'feeding' the carbons together as they are burned away at their tips, and, in some cases, for short-circuiting the lamp in case of irregularity or accident." -Avery 1895

Arc Lamp

"The arc lamp is essentially a device for automatically separating the carbons when the current is turned…

"Method of using a grounded metallic comb near the driving belt to relieve the belt of static charges." —Croft 1920

Using a Grounded Metallic Comb to Reduce Static Charge, Perspective View

"Method of using a grounded metallic comb near the driving belt to relieve the belt of static charges."…

"Method of using a grounded metallic comb near the driving belt to relieve the belt of static charges." —Croft 1920

Using a Grounded Metallic Comb to Reduce Static Charge, Front and Side View

"Method of using a grounded metallic comb near the driving belt to relieve the belt of static charges."…

"The push-button...is well known in connection with the electric bell: a brass spring which forms part of the circuit closing the opening when pressed by an insulating button of hard-rubber, porcelain, or fiber,—the whole inclosed in a cap made in a great variety of ornamental designs." -Atkinson 1903

Push Button

"The push-button...is well known in connection with the electric bell: a brass spring which forms part…

A portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Born in 1706 and died in 1790.

Benjamin Franklin

A portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Born in 1706 and died in 1790.

A small electric meter that measures electricity in units called kilowatts-hour. The first meter is in the thousands place and points to 3, the hundreds place points to 6, and the tens place points to 8. The meter reads 3,680 killowatts-hour.

Electric Meter

A small electric meter that measures electricity in units called kilowatts-hour. The first meter is…

A simple battery or cell used to generate electricity by chemical action.

Simple Battery

A simple battery or cell used to generate electricity by chemical action.

An illustration of an electric bell. "The magnetizing coils are a a, and they are connected with their terminals at binding posts b1, b2. When these binding posts are connected with the electric current and the circuit is closed, the armature, at d, will be attracted, and will push the hammer e upon the bell. When the armature is attracted, the spring f leaves the screw contact g, against which it rests." -Foster, 1921

Electric Bell

An illustration of an electric bell. "The magnetizing coils are a a, and they are connected with their…

Torpedo is a group of rays, commonly called electric rays or torpedoes. It is the only genus in the family Torpedinidae, in the order Torpediniformes. They are slow-moving bottom-dwellers capable of generating a electricity as a defense and feeding mechanism. There are 15-22 extant species.

Torpedo

Torpedo is a group of rays, commonly called electric rays or torpedoes. It is the only genus in the…

A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy of the wind into more useful forms using rotating blades or sails. The term also refers to the structure it is commonly built on. In much of Europe, windmills served originally to grind grain, though later applications included pumping water and, more recently, generation of electricity.

Windmill

A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy…

A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy of the wind into more useful forms using rotating blades or sails. The term also refers to the structure it is commonly built on. In much of Europe, windmills served originally to grind grain, though later applications included pumping water and, more recently, generation of electricity.

Windmill

A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy…

An electrical remontoire can be either a gravity or spring type. In it, the weight or spring is rewound electrically, with a motor or solenoid. It is used in clocks with traditional mechanical movements which are run on electricity.

Electrical Remontoire

An electrical remontoire can be either a gravity or spring type. In it, the weight or spring is rewound…

The trough battery was a variant of the Voltaic Pile and was invented by William Cruickshank c1800. Volta's battery consisted of brine-soaked pieces of cloth sandwiched between zinc and copper discs, piled stack; this resulted in electrolyte leakage as the weight of the discs squeezed the electrolyte out of the cloth. Cruickshank solved this problem by laying the battery on its side in a rectangular box. The inside of this box was lined with shellac for insulation, and pairs of welded-together zinc and copper were laid out in this box, evenly spaced. The spaces between the plates (the troughs) were filled with dilute sulfuric acid. So long as the box wasn't knocked about, there was no risk of electrolyte spillage.

Trough Battery

The trough battery was a variant of the Voltaic Pile and was invented by William Cruickshank c1800.…

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was bent into a U-shape, with a single plate of zinc placed in the center of the bent copper. The zinc plate was prevented from making contact with the copper by dowels (pieces) of cork or wood. In his single cell design, the U-shaped copper plate was welded to a horizontal handle for lifting the copper and zinc plates out out the electrolyte when the battery was not in use.

Wallaston's Battery

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was…

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was bent into a U-shape, with a single plate of zinc placed in the center of the bent copper. The zinc plate was prevented from making contact with the copper by dowels (pieces) of cork or wood. In his single cell design, the U-shaped copper plate was welded to a horizontal handle for lifting the copper and zinc plates out out the electrolyte when the battery was not in use.

Wallaston's Battery

In Wollaston's battery, the wooden box was replaced with an earthenware vessel, and a copper plate was…

An illustration of the Smee cell.

Smee Cell

An illustration of the Smee cell.

An illustration of Bussen's cell.

Bussen's Cell

An illustration of Bussen's cell.

An illustration of Bussen's cell.The Grove cell was an early electric primary cell named after its inventor, British chemist William Robert Grove, and consisted of a zinc anode in concentrated sulfuric acid and a platinum cathode in concentrated nitric acid, the two separated by a porous ceramic pot. The Grove cell was the favored power source of the early American telegraph system in the period 1840 - 1860 because it offered a high current output and higher voltage than the earlier Daniell cell (at 1.9 volts and 1.1 volts, respectively).

Grove Cell

An illustration of Bussen's cell.The Grove cell was an early electric primary cell named after its inventor,…

An illustration of the bottle bichromate.

Bottle Bichromate

An illustration of the bottle bichromate.

An illustration of the Trouve bichromate.

Trouve Bichromate

An illustration of the Trouve bichromate.

The cell was set up in a glass, or glazed earthenware, pot. This contained the chromic acid solution, the carbon plate and a porous pot. Inside the porous pot was dilute sulfuric acid, the zinc rod, and a small quantity of mercury. The mercury formed an amalgam with the zinc and this reduced "local action", i.e. unwanted dissolution of the zinc when the cell was not in use.

Fuller Bichromate

The cell was set up in a glass, or glazed earthenware, pot. This contained the chromic acid solution,…

The Daniell cell (var. sp. Daniel cell), also called the gravity cell or crowfoot cell was invented in 1836 by John Frederic Daniell, who was a British chemist and meteorologist. The Daniell cell was a great improvement over the voltaic pile used in the early days of battery development. The Daniell cell's theoretical voltage is 1.1 volts and the chemical reaction is Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s).

Daniell Cell

The Daniell cell (var. sp. Daniel cell), also called the gravity cell or crowfoot cell was invented…

An illustration of the Minotto cell.

Minotto Cell

An illustration of the Minotto cell.

In semiconductor design, standard cell methodology is a method of designing Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) with mostly digital-logic features.

Fleming's Standard Cell

In semiconductor design, standard cell methodology is a method of designing Application Specific Integrated…

In semiconductor design, standard cell methodology is a method of designing Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) with mostly digital-logic features.

Clark's Standard Cell

In semiconductor design, standard cell methodology is a method of designing Application Specific Integrated…

The incandescent lamp or globe lamp, showing carbon filament at a.

Incandescent Lamp

The incandescent lamp or globe lamp, showing carbon filament at a.

An electric arc lamp by Brush Electric Company. Arc lamps produce light by an electric or voltaic arc.

Arc Lamp

An electric arc lamp by Brush Electric Company. Arc lamps produce light by an electric or voltaic arc.

An electric arc lamp by Brush Electric Company. Arc lamps produce light by an electric or voltaic arc.

Arc Lamp

An electric arc lamp by Brush Electric Company. Arc lamps produce light by an electric or voltaic arc.

The armature of a dynamo machine by Brush Electric Company. The dynamo machine, now known as an electrical generator, is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Dynamo Machine

The armature of a dynamo machine by Brush Electric Company. The dynamo machine, now known as an electrical…

The dynamo machine, now known as an electrical generator, is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Dynamo Machine

The dynamo machine, now known as an electrical generator, is a device that converts mechanical energy…

Now known as electrostatic generators, the Frictional electric machine produces static electricity at high voltage. "A, glass plate; B, rubber, holding amalgam; C, collecting points; D, prime conductor." -Whitney, 1911

Frictional Electric Machine

Now known as electrostatic generators, the Frictional electric machine produces static electricity at…

Thomas Edison's original concept of the electric machine, an electricity generator distributed to homes, businesses, and factories.

Electric Machine

Thomas Edison's original concept of the electric machine, an electricity generator distributed to homes,…

"A magnet which owes its magnetic properties to the inductive action of an electric current." -Whitney, 1911

Electromagnet

"A magnet which owes its magnetic properties to the inductive action of an electric current." -Whitney,…

Alessandro Volta's design of the electrophorus. "An instrument for obtaining statical electricity by means of induction." -Whitney, 1911

Electrophorus

Alessandro Volta's design of the electrophorus. "An instrument for obtaining statical electricity by…

"An instrument for observing or detecting the existence of free electricity, and, in general, for determining its kind. ... The simplest electroscope consists of pith-balls suspended by silk threads." -Whitney, 1911

Pith-Ball Electroscope

"An instrument for observing or detecting the existence of free electricity, and, in general, for determining…

"An instrument for observing or detecting the existence of free electricity, and, in general, for determining its kind. ... Quadrant electroscope, a form of pith-ball electroscope which serves to measure roughly the degree of electrification by the rise of the pith-ball as indicated by the motion of the rod carrying it on a graduated semicircle." -Whitney, 1911

Quadrant Electroscope

"An instrument for observing or detecting the existence of free electricity, and, in general, for determining…

"An instrument for observing or detecting the existence of free electricity, and, in general, for determining its kind. ... In Volta's condensing electroscope, in place of the gilt knob there is a flat metal plate upon which rests another similar plate, which may be removed by an insulating handle." -Whitney, 1911

Condensing Electroscope

"An instrument for observing or detecting the existence of free electricity, and, in general, for determining…

A galvanometer is a type of ammeter; an instrument for detecting and measuring electric current. It is an analog electromechanical transducer that produces a rotary deflection, through a limited arc, in response to electric current flowing through its coil. The term has been expanded to include uses of the same mechanism in recording, positioning, and servomechanism equipment.

Galvanometer

A galvanometer is a type of ammeter; an instrument for detecting and measuring electric current. It…

"The galvanometer consists of two distinct coils of wire, each having the same resistance, and having equal magnetic effects upon the needle. These coils C and C' are wound in opposite directions, as shown, and one end of each is joined to the same terminal on the frame of the galvanometer; the other ends are joined to separate terminals also situated on the frame." (Britannica, 1891)

Differential Galvanometer

"The galvanometer consists of two distinct coils of wire, each having the same resistance, and having…

"Represents in diagram the arrangement of the battery, resistance, and galvanometer. There are two keys, K and K, , placed in the circuit whose uses will be subsequently explained for the present, the diagram will be considered as if these keys did not exist, and as if the current flowed permanently through. the circuits as is indicated by the arrow-heads." (Britannica, 1891)

Arrangement of Battery, Resistance, and Galvanometer

"Represents in diagram the arrangement of the battery, resistance, and galvanometer. There are two keys,…

An illustration of Mance's method used to measure battery resistance.

Battery Resistance

An illustration of Mance's method used to measure battery resistance.

An illustration of Mance's method used to measure battery resistance.

Battery Resistance

An illustration of Mance's method used to measure battery resistance.

An illustration of the assisting and opposing method used to measure battery resistance.

Battery Resistance

An illustration of the assisting and opposing method used to measure battery resistance.

A potentiometer instrument for measuring the potential (or voltage) in a circuit taps off a fraction of a known voltage from a resistive slide wire and compares it with the unknown voltage by means of a galvanometer. The sliding tap of the potentiometer is adjusted and the galvanometer briefly connected to both the sliding tap and the unknown potential; the deflection of the galvanometer is observed and the sliding tap adjusted until the galvanometer no longer deflects. At that point the galvanometer draws no current from the unknown source, and the magnitude of voltage can be calculated from the position of the sliding contact. This null balance method is a fundamental technique of electrical metrology.

Potentiometer

A potentiometer instrument for measuring the potential (or voltage) in a circuit taps off a fraction…

"The Metre Bridge is employed - a piece of apparatus which is illustrated [here]. It consists of a wooden base, upon the upper face of which is mounted a metallic rectangle; three sides of this rectangle are formed by a broad substantial copper band - having a negligible resistance - and the fourth consists of a platinum silver wire w w joining the copper blocks P and p. This wire is exactly one meter long, and over it slides a key K, which when depressed makes contact by means of a platinum knife-edge with the wire; the exact point on the wire at which this contact is made is indicated by an arrow-head on the key, which slides against a scale, as shown." (Britannica, 1891)

Metre Bridge

"The Metre Bridge is employed - a piece of apparatus which is illustrated [here]. It consists of a wooden…

"Equipotential Lines about two similarly electrified spheres, A and B, the quantities of electricity being as 2:1. The lines of force are also shown radiating from the spheres." -Whitney, 1911

Equipotential

"Equipotential Lines about two similarly electrified spheres, A and B, the quantities of electricity…

An illustration of the connections for a capacity test on a battery.

Connections for Capacity Test

An illustration of the connections for a capacity test on a battery.

An illustration of a quadrant electrometer. An electrometer is an electrical instrument for measuring electric charge or electrical potential difference. There are many different types, ranging from historical hand-made mechanical instruments to high-precision electronic devices.

Quadrant Electrometer

An illustration of a quadrant electrometer. An electrometer is an electrical instrument for measuring…