Did you ever wonder about the origin of names in electricity? Some may seem quite strange to our English speaking minds. Until we learn they come from the names of famous people in the history of energy. We guess that’s one way to ensure that the technical terms are unique.
Famous Names in The History of Electricity
Here’s a list of the origin of names in electricity, that we use when we write about batteries:
- Volts measure the force with which current works its way through a circuit. Alessandro Volta invented the first real battery in 1799.
- Amperes (amps for short) measure the rate an electrical charge flows. André-Marie Ampère was one of the pioneers of electromagnetism.
- Ohms measure the electrical resistance in a battery or circuit. Georg Simon Ohm discovered a ratio between voltage and electric current.
- Coulombs measure electric charge in terms of amperes per second. Charles-Augustin de Coulomb defined electrostatic attraction and repulsion.
- Farads measure the ability of a body to store an electrical charge. Michael Faraday researched magnetic induction and electrolysis.
- Watts measure the rate of energy transfer. James Watt developed the concept of horsepower while developing his own steam engine.
- Joules measure energy that transfers, when one watt operates for one second. James Prescott Joule related heat to mechanical work.
- Henrys measure the ability of an electrical conductor to resist a change in electricity flowing through it. Joseph Henry studied self-inductance.
- Siemens measure the rate of electrical conductance. Ernst Werner Siemens invented electric trams, trolley buses, locomotives, and elevators.
- Hertz measure the frequency of cycles or events per second. Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was the first person to prove that electromagnetic waves existed.
Every time we use these terms in the context of electricity, we unconsciously acknowledge those pioneers in the origin of battery science.
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