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Early electric battery, 1850
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Early electric battery, 1850
Early electric battery. Historical artwork of a voltaic pile, the first modern type of electric battery, which was invented in 1800 by the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). A voltaic pile consists of alternating units (one shown at right) of plates of two different metals and a piece of wet cardboard or cloth. Here, from top to bottom, the unit is: copper plate, wet cardboard, zinc plate. A pile of these units makes up the voltaic pile in the main picture. Wires at top and bottom carry the electric current, produced by a chemical reaction, to power an electrical device. Zinc and copper are still used in batteries today. Artwork from Scientific Recreations (Tissander Gaston, 1850)
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Media ID 6467613
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1800 1850 Battery Copper Electrical Electricity History Of Science Metal Metals Voltaic Pile Zinc Alessandro Volta False Coloured Physical
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This artwork showcases the early electric battery, a groundbreaking invention that revolutionized the world of electricity. Created in 1800 by Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist, this voltaic pile marked the birth of modern batteries. The illustration depicts a historical representation of this ingenious device from 1850. The voltaic pile consists of alternating units composed of two different metals and a piece of wet cardboard or cloth. In this particular unit shown on the right side, there is a copper plate followed by wet cardboard and then a zinc plate. A stack of these units forms the complete voltaic pile seen in the main picture. With wires connected at both ends to carry electric current generated through chemical reactions, this pioneering technology powered various electrical devices. It's fascinating to note that even today, zinc and copper remain integral components in batteries. This vividly colored artwork not only captures the physical structure but also highlights its significance in history as it paved the way for advancements in science and technology. Through Tissander Gaston's "Scientific Recreations" publication from 1850, we can appreciate how far we have come since Volta's remarkable discovery over two centuries ago.
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