Nikola Tesla 1

The Life and Inventions of Nikola Tesla

Nathan Herrmann

Nikola Tesla 2
Abstract
This paper looks to briefly investigate the life and inventions of Nikola Tesla. He was a
Serbian American who was extremely devoted to his work. After moving to the united states and
creating his own lab to develop his alternating current he would go on to create more inventions
that changed history forever.

Nikola Tesla 3
The Life and Inventions of Nikola Tesla
The progressive development of man is vitally dependent upon invention. It is the most
important product of his creative brain. Its ultimate purpose is the complete mastery of mind
over the material world, the harnessing of the forces of nature to human needs. Nikola Tesla,
My Inventions. Nikola Tesla was one of the more extraordinary men that the world has known
and brought modern electricity to the world through his inventions and harnessing of the AC
current. His dream of harnessing the power of Niagara Falls and giving that power to all of
American is what lead him to America and began him on his course to change the world. This
paper is meant to explore the life of Tesla and also examine some of his more famous inventions.

Early Life of Nikola Tesla

Tesla was a Serbian American born in 1856 in the Austrian Empire. His father was a
priest and intended for him to follow the in the same path that he had gone. These plans
changed, however, when he became sick with cholera. During one of the worst episodes of his
sickness where it was believe he would die his father spoke to him. Tesla told his father that he
would get well if he were allowed to study in Geneva. His father said that he would got to the
best technical institution in the world. To everyones amazement he became better.
1877 When he was 21 he began his college education in Austria. He became obsessed
with the science of electricity and continues to search to learn more of this force. As the
technology to generate electricity through electromagnetic induction. This early model of a
motor operated on direct current (DC) and required a system of sparking connections in the
rotary machine. At an early age Tesla brought this idea of alternating-currents to his professor
and said that it would greatly improve the design. In response his professor told him, in front of

Nikola Tesla 4
his class, that he would never be able to create this system because it was a perpetual motion
scheme.
This did not, however, distract him from thinking of how to complete his dream of using
alternating-current. In 1880 when he moved to Budapest he finally had his first idea of a
generator using alternating-current. The first diagram drawn of his idea was in the dirt with a
stick. This is when he realized how he could use the opposing forced of magnetic attraction and
repulsion to recreate a rotating field, twisting a rotor like a wheel.
Moving to the U.S.
Tesla first arrived at the United States after having spent all of his money and nearly
losing his life during a mutiny on the boat the traveled on. He landed on June 6th 1884with only
4 cents and a letter of recommendation to Thomas Edison from Charles Bachelor in his pocket.
Tesla wanted to show Edison his idea for an alternating-current, but this was a topic of
aggravation for Edison. His whole foundation was built on direct current. Tesla was instead
hired to improve the direct current motors. After completing the task, however, Edison simply
laughed when Tesla tried to receive his payment and said that he didnt understand their
American sense of humor.
Despite this setback he opened his own laboratory, with the help of investors, near
Edisons a year later and began his own work on alternating-current. This is where he would
first assemble a prototype of the motor he first envisioned.
Inventions of Tesla
In order to prove his alternating-current was safe and effective, Tesla made various
inventions that explained his work and also captivated his audience.

Nikola Tesla 5
Teslas Egg of Columbus.
This creation was meant to show the rotating current created by his motor. A copper egg
was to be placed on a surface and a rotating current created around the egg. This would cause
the egg to rise and rotate on its major axis. This was placed on display at the Worlds Columbus
Expedition; the entire expedition was lit up by Teslas alternating-current generators.
High Frequency
Through High frequency he was able to create the first neon and florescent illumination.
This also allowed him to take the first x-ray photographs.
Tesla Coil
This was Teslas lifelong dream and was first seen in his laboratory when he was able to
light up a vacuum tube that was held in his hand with no connection of wires. This led him to his
obsession and eventual creation of the Tesla coil. This coil produces high-voltage, low current,
high frequency alternating-current electricity. This coil was his inspiration to create the
Wardenclyffe Coil, though it was never fully created.
Teslas boat
This boat was remotely controlled by radio waves and was put on demonstration first at
Madison Square Garden. This technology eventually grew into guided missiles and has been
considered the father of robotics.
Conclusion
Nikola Tesla was a man who was extremely dedicated to his work and sought to change
the world through his inventions. He brought the world into a new age with his alternatingcurrent which remains the standard for electricity in the world. Without his work and creations
we would not be where we are today with our technology.

Nikola Tesla 6
References
Uth, R. (Director). (2000). Tesla: Master of Lightning [Motion Picture].
Vujovic, D. L. (Director). (1994). Nikola Tesla: The Genius Who Lit The World [Motion Picture].