Analysis Of Ben Franklin And The Middle Of The Storm

Electronics and electricity have come a long way since they were first being discovered. That is not to say that what was originally thought is now wrong or obsolete, but rather has been added to or has been more refined. When most people think of electricity what comes to mind is Ben Franklin with his kite and a key in the middle of the storm. However, that is only one completely minor detail which led to the discovery and the ability to harness and use what was already happening in nature. Only on a scale that could be used by an everyday person. Although it is something we all use every day, most people do not really know who or what has been done in the field of electronics and electricity. Most just take for granted the fact†¦show more content†¦A galvanic cell is an electrochemical cell that derives electrical energy from spontaneous redox reactions taking place within the cell. Although it is not certain whether the artifact was electrical in nature or used f or some other use that was needed within the culture (Britannica, 2014). The history of electricity had little if any advancement for many years since the time of Thales. In fact it was nothing more than thought and curiosity until the 1600’s. It was at this point English scientist â€Å"William Gilbert made a careful study of electricity and magnetism, distinguishing the lodestone effect from static electricity produced by rubbing amber. He later coined the new Latin word electricus meaning (â€Å"of Amber† or â€Å"like Amber†)† (Stewart 2001). We skip ahead another century to the times of such great minds as Otto von Guericke, Robert Boyle, Stephen Gray, C. F. du Fay, and Benjamin Franklin. Franklin conducted extensive studies and performed hundreds of experiments. He even went as far as to sell off many of his own possessions in order to fund his work. Meanwhile it was in of June 1752 that he has been reputed to have attached a metal key to t he bottom of a dampened kite string and had flown the kite in a storm threatened sky (Srodes, James, 2002). By doing so he had sparks jumping from the key into the back of his hand, he had thus proved that