Nikola Tesla – Life , Impact In The 20th Century And Legacy

Introduction

Nikola Tesla made a significant impact in the 20th century. Considering the huge difference that Tesla made in his time, it is clear that he made changes that had a positive influence on the lives of people. The inventions made by Tesla contributed to a change in how various things were done in his time. Today, it is thought that if Nikolai did not make the discoveries and creations that he made in the 20th century, the way of life would be different. People would have a more difficult life if the inventions were ignored. Nikola’s designs pass as a turning point in the history of all discoveries because if the ideas he came up with were not in existence today, the way of life would be different as well as challenging. Ideally, the aspect of communication would not be easy to achieve.

Tesla’s biggest Impact In The 20th Century

People know that Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American, devised electric lights, various domestic devices, radio and other hydroelectric power supplies. Thibault (2013) asserts that Tesla thought extensively and invented a common means of data communication and other important things like seismology, mechanical laxative, and fluorescent light. Even though Tesla is usually presented as a scientist who was given minimum credit for his brilliance in the field, he was a hero and an outstanding principal in his field of discoveries. Tesla started off his career as an employee of Thomas Alva Edison, but they had a strained working relationship. Carlson (2005) Explains that after Tesla and Edison had discovered a complicated working relationship, Tesla moved on to work with George Westinghouse in 1885. Even though Tesla had a bad working relationship with Edison, he managed to come up with a system used to distribute electricity, which employed the means of alternating current (AC).

The alternating current (AC) is the most significant invention that Tesla made during his time. He delivered an important contribution to the field of science and the history of energy by devising the alternative current. When working at the Westinghouse Electric company, Tesla came up with the technology by providing light to the Colombian Exposition in the year 1893, in Chicago (Peker, 2014). At the time when Tesla came up with the discovery, he was out of working terms with Edison. Tesla’s idea proved to be more sensible and efficient in the field of electricity gridding. According to Thibault (2013), the alternative current (AC) was preferred as the more efficient way of electricity gridding rather than Edison’s idea of the direct current (DC). Therefore, Tesla’s technology became the most considered means of power distribution in such a short time.

The remarkable Tesla not only invented the AC system but came up with ways to achieve two successful measures at a go. Firstly Tesla discovered how to short out the alternative current and the direct current. Secondly, Tesla came up with a way of moving electricity from one place to another. According to Carlson (2005), Tesla made a discovery on the means of transporting energy over long distances. The discoveries changed the word since the designs remain the same to date. Such inventions made by Tesla impacted the world significantly, creating modernization.

Tesla’s legacy

Even though Tesla’s work was seized by the government over some controversy, most of his work was released to his family; ideally, he left behind a legacy that remains undisputed. The following are some of his successful inventions:

 

  1. The AC motor

Tesla thought of a situation where an alternating current operated without the need of mechanical aid. According to Peker (2013), Tesla’s invention of the AC aimed at moving a motor automatically. The design made by Tesla was tested and proved to be efficient and durable. In two years of the design, Tesla had developed a significant number of new models of motors. In the modern world, Tesla’s AC is modified to power most appliances used at people’s homes.

  1. The Tesla Coil

This was a device that helped people understand the concept of electricity and how it operates. The method used polyphase currents to enable high voltage of currency. The first models of radio employed the services of Tesla’s coils in transmission. Martin and Tesla (2014) maintain that Tesla used various concepts of the invention to come up with x-rays, wireless power, fluorescence, electromagnetic nature and biological effects. Today, the design of the Tesla’s coil is significant mainly because it is used in electronics and the supply of electricity at high voltage in televisions.

  1. The remote control

Tesla had a demonstration in 1898 at Madison Square about a radio-controlled boat. The radio signals were used to control the switches, which in turn controlled the boat. Tesla was able to use a box with levers and a telegraph key to send signals to the boat. The invention made by Tesla targeted the US Navy, who never thought that the idea would be helpful in combat. Carlson (2005) explains that Tesla’s discovery paved the way for the Space Age, which concentrated on military satellite. The development was useful overall for both military and commercial use.

  1. Improving lighting

Tesla’s first invention of lighting was not optimal, but his improvements made the invention better. Tesla was able to come up with a type of energy that had the ability to light up without the use of wires (Tesla, 2013). He surprised his colleagues and rivals when he made his first demonstration of wireless power. Additionally, Tesla’s creativity led him to the discovery of human-made lighting by use of the magnifying transmitter.

Facts about Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla was a man who was able to visualize on his inventions. He would come up with objects in his head and put them to practicality to the last minute detail. Tesla was not an ordinary engineer because while others were busy scribbling ideas on paper, he was relying on imagination entirely. According to Thibault (2013), Tesla’s mind was vivid, and he made his inventions through his mind, which was an unorthodox way of coming up with ideas. Apparently, Tesla started having light flashes when he was a young boy. Such episodes were typically followed by situations of great imagination and acquisition of various ideas. Peker (2014) asserts that Tesla had the ability to solve problems in a systematic way when he was just growing up. Tesla, being a man of immense love for science, avoided any links between his flashes with religion and he only thought of the episode as scientific. All the things that Tesla believed were in line to the potential lighting of the world. He was aiming at getting rid of darkness and coming up with a different era of illumination.

Tesla was an engineer who was more interested in broad concepts discoveries rather than useful inventions.  He is known to be a person who was determined to provide a broad spectrum of abilities for people. According to Carlson (2005), Tesla always provided people with energy that was always available and free to everyone. He is considered an omnipresent engineer because his concept of alternating current is still useful and is the most reliable and safe way of distributing electricity in buildings. Even though Tesla and Edison were enemies, civilization, as we see it today, rests on the shoulders of the two (Thibault, 2013). The world functions as it does today because Tesla’s brilliant mind thought of a way to illuminate the world. Even though Tesla was not given the recognition that he deserved, he is slowly gaining the fame and taking credit for all his inventions and brilliance.

Conclusion

Nikola Tesla was among some of the geniuses that helped create a revolution of the world through science. He helped make life easier for people. Even though he made groundbreaking discoveries, he had enemies in his field. That resulted to a situation where Tesla fell under the shadow of his rivals (Edison and Marconi). Tesla is thought to be a scientist who was uniquely gifted, and he existed in a time where science was highly valued. He made sure that the world was a different place by making various technological advancements that helped America and the world at large. His contribution is still appreciated today, and his legacy transcends him. He stands as an inspiration to most aspiring scientists today.

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