Inventor Background #
Alessandro Volta was born on Febuary 18, 1745 in Como, Italy. Volta’s family wanted Volta to study law and to become a preist. But Volta was obsessed with electricity and decided to study physics.
He left the school he was attending early and didn’t go to University. Despite this, Volta started to work with other scientists in the feild and doing research into electricity. In 1769 he made his first paper on the forces of the attration of electrical fires.
Alessandro decided to start teaching at a local school in Como in 1774. Volta continued doing experiments with electricity. One of his notable achievements within this decade was the ability to isolate methane.
What was the Voltaic Pile #
The Voltaic Pile was one of the first types of batteries to allow a contiuous stream of electricity to a circut. The Voltaic PIle was a revolutionary device made by Alessandro Volta in the year 1800.
How does the Voltaic Pile work #
The main parts of the Voltaic Pile are two metal discs of different materials (usually copper and zinc) and a dampened cloth with brine (a combination of water and salt) or using vinegar. Alessandro alternated the copper and zinc discs using the soaked cloth. A reaction would occur in the disc formation resulting the formation of an elecric cell and an electrical current. And by changing the amount of discs formations stacked on top of each other, you could increase or decrease the amount of electricity coming out of the voltaic pile. If you attached a wire to the end of the Voltaic Pile, you could get a steady supply of electricity.
Applications #
The Voltaic Pile was commonly used in scientific experiments as a supply of power. The Voltaic Pile was eventually replaced by the electric battery in 1836 and now the voltaic pile is a cool reminder of the innovation in science.