Nikola Tesla vs Thomas Edison. Segredos da Rivalidade Entre Tesla e Edison. A Batalha das Correntes

What was the relationship between Nicola Tesla and Thomas Edson? Hey Engineering Lovers, my name is Gustavo Pereira and today I'm going to bring you a historical view of the famous rivalry between Nicola Tesla and Thomas Edson, and perhaps show you that a lot of what you see out there is pure sensationalism. And before continuing, if you are watching this video and are not subscribed, take the opportunity now to subscribe , leave a like and activate the bell so you can be part of the biggest community of engineering lovers on YouTube, are you done?

But before that, who was Thomas Edison? Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, a small village in the state of Ohio, in the United States. He was the seventh and last child of Samuel Ogden Edison Jr.

and Nancy Matthews Elliott Edison and his family was of humble origins and had Dutch and Canadian roots. Edison's formal education was limited where he attended school for only three months and then his mother taught him at home. At the age of ten, Edison was already a voracious reader and showed a keen interest in science and experimentation.

His father encouraged him to explore his interest in knowledge, giving him books and simple scientific instruments. When he was 12 years old, Edison began working as a newspaper and candy seller on trains that ran between Port Huron and Detroit, Michigan. He also set up a small chemistry laboratory in a train carriage, where he conducted experiments.

This experience helped develop her skills in communication, negotiation and independent learning. At age 16, Edison obtained his first job as a telegraph operator in Port Huron. His prior knowledge of telegraphy and his ability to learn quickly made him stand out in this profession, but during his nights on duty, he continued to carry out scientific experiments.

The pivotal moment in Edison's career occurred when he saved the life of a boy who was about to be hit by a train. The boy's father was Samuel Laws, superintendent of Western Union in Detroit, who was so impressed by Edison's action that he offered him a job with his company. This gave Edison the opportunity to move to Boston, where he could hone his telegraphy skills and begin working on his innovations.

Edison moved to New York in 1869 and established a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he and his team worked on several inventions. Edison's reputation as an inventor was cemented with the invention of the phonograph in 1877 and the commercially viable incandescent light bulb in 1879. Over the course of his career, Edison established more than a thousand patents for a wide variety of inventions, including batteries, telecommunications systems, cinema cameras and much more.

Edison's path to becoming a successful businessman was shaped by his insatiable curiosity, determination, self-taught skills, and a tireless work ethic. His practical approach to innovation, focused on finding solutions to real-world problems, has contributed to his lasting success as an inventor and entrepreneur. In 1878, Edison founded the Edison Electric Light Company, and this was one of Edison's first companies related to the distribution of electrical energy.

She played a key role in implementing electric lighting systems in cities across the United States. In 1881, Edison also founded the Edison Ore-Milling Company, which was created to explore and develop methods to process iron ores more efficiently . He was interested in finding ways to improve the production of iron and steel.

In 1889, Edison founded the Edison General Electric Company together with some investors. This company was formed to consolidate its interests in the production and distribution of electrical energy and related equipment. However, the company went through a series of changes and mergers, resulting in the formation of General Electric and the famous GE we know in 1892.

Edison played an important role in the beginning of GE, but ended up leaving the company due to philosophical and organizational differences. management. Over time, Edison developed a process for grinding iron ore and eventually found a market in selling this waste from the steel industry to cement manufacturers and in 1899, Edison founded the Edison Portland Cement Company.

He began exploring the production of Portland cement using a process technology he developed himself and founded this company to commercialize this technology. And lastly, we have the National Phonograph Company, which Although Edison did not directly found the company, he had a significant involvement with the development of the phonograph and the recording industry in general. But so far we have only talked about Thomas Edison, but who was Nikola Tesla?

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian inventor, electrical engineer and physicist, known for his revolutionary contributions to science and technology. He is widely considered one of the pioneers of electrical engineering and one of the great geniuses of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on July 10, 1856 in Smiljan, which was part of the Austrian Empire in present-day Croatia, Tesla studied electrical engineering at Technical University of Graz in Austria, and later attended Carolina University in Prague.

His formal education was interrupted due to disagreements with his father over his career path, especially regarding electrical engineering and philosophy. In 1882, after having worked in several European cities, Tesla arrived in Paris with few financial resources, but with a mind full of innovative ideas about electricity and engineering. It was there that Tesla found employment at a subsidiary of the Edison Company, called the Continental Edison Company.

He worked as an engineer in the telegraphy division, contributing to the improvement of communication systems and telegraph equipment. His work in this area increased his technical experience and understanding of electrical currents. During his time in Paris, Tesla began to develop ideas about alternating current (AC) and its advantages over direct current (DC).

It was during this period that he began to develop the concepts for the polyphase alternating current system, which would become one of his greatest contributions to electrical engineering. Tesla obtained his first patents while in Paris and one of his first patented inventions was a device that revolutionized the operation of direct current systems, but his vision for alternating current was taking hold. Although Tesla spent a few years in Paris and made significant advances in his ideas, he eventually left for the United States in 1884.

It was in the United States that his innovations in alternating current and other areas expanded and gained recognition. Upon arriving in the United States in 1884, Tesla worked with Thomas Edison, but their differing views on direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) separated them. Tesla strongly advocated alternating current as superior for the efficient transmission of electrical energy over long distances.

His polyphase alternating current system, one of his most iconic inventions, allowed for the effective transmission of electricity on a large scale. He also invented the Tesla coil, which generated high voltages and which had an impact on both electrical research and special effects in films. Tesla established his own company, Tesla Electric Light & Manufacturing, to commercialize his innovations, but faced financial difficulties and a lack of resources.

His notable partnership was with George Westinghouse, a businessman who supported his vision of alternating current, opposing Edison's direct current. In the "Battle of the Currents", Tesla ended up having the upper hand, which resulted in the widespread adoption of alternating current across cities and the construction of hydroelectric plants using Tesla and Westinghouse technology. Despite his contributions, Tesla was less financially successful than many contemporaries, such as Edison.

After his death in 1943, he became recognized as an electrical pioneer and prominent inventor, and his legacy persists in electrical engineering and related fields, shaping modern advances in technology such as electrical power systems, wireless communications, and electronics. Nikola Tesla is remembered for his visionary vision, significant contributions to electrical engineering, and innovations that continue to influence society and technology today. But what about this controversy that Edison stole ideas from Tesla, is this true?

This question is a controversial and complex topic that has been debated over the years. It is important to approach this issue more subtly and take several aspects into consideration. Edison and Tesla worked in different times and contexts.

While Tesla was developing his ideas about alternating current (AC) and other innovations, Edison was already known for his contributions to the field of electricity and inventions such as the incandescent light bulb. It is not accurate to say that Edison "stole" specific ideas from Tesla. Edison and Tesla had very different approaches to innovation and research where Edison was known for his focus on the practical application and commercialization of his inventions, while Tesla had a vision more focused on research and scientific advancement.

Their areas of interest and their views on electricity also differed considerably. One of the main areas of disagreement between Edison and Tesla was exactly the "Battle of the Currents", in which Edison promoted direct current (DC) as the standard for distributing electrical energy, while Tesla defended alternating current (AC). This battle was more about philosophical and commercial differences than the direct theft of ideas.

However, there are allegations that Edison may have appropriated ideas or indirectly benefited from the work of other researchers, but these allegations are not limited to Tesla alone. At the time, the issue of assigning patents and credits was often complex and sometimes controversial. Within the context of the time when Edison and Tesla worked together, there were agreements and contractual clauses that often stipulated that inventions made by employees within the workplace would belong to the company or employer.

This included the Edison Electric Light Company itself, where Tesla briefly worked. At this company, Edison was involved in the research and development of electrical innovations, including the improvement of the incandescent light bulb. Edison had a business model in which he owned the patents and controlled the development of various inventions through his companies.

As part of this model, many employees were hired to work on these innovations, and the resulting patents were often registered in the company's name. If you think about it, the company provides laboratories, financing and an environment conducive to innovation, which many talents would not have access to if they did everything on their own. Tesla was employed at the Edison Electric Light Company for a short period, during which he worked in several areas of electrical research and development.

It is likely that, according to the practices of the time and Edison's business model, the inventions Tesla made during his time there would have been considered the property of the company or Edison. This may have contributed to some of the tensions and disagreements between Edison and Tesla, as Tesla, who had an approach more focused on innovation and science than commercial profits, often felt frustrated with Edison's commercial emphasis and the treatment of ideas and inventions. So while there is no clarity on specific contract clauses, it is important to recognize that intellectual property practices and standards were different at that time, and many inventions made within companies were considered the property of employers.

This may have influenced the dynamics and interactions between Edison, Tesla and other people who worked in this environment. And you, what do you think of this rivalry? Are you team Tesla or are you Team Edison?

I'm going to leave two videos here that you might also like and that are definitely worth checking out. If you liked the video, leave a like, subscribe to the channel and share this video with other people. That's it engineering lovers, a big hug and I'll see you in the next video.