Before the invention of electricity, people used to rely on candles, torches as well as oil lamps. The invention of electricity prompted scientists to devise ways of transforming that electric power into light. In 1801, an English physician known as Sir Humphry Davy passed an electric current with much success over platinum strips to produce light. However, the light produced lasted only minutes because the platinum strips evaporated much faster. Later on in 1809, Davy managed to produce an Arc lamp using charcoal rods that were connected to a battery. Other scientists worked on ways of prolonging the duration of the light.
In 1840, a British scientist, Warren de la Rue produced light by placing platinum coil inside a vacuum tube. When
Electric bulb emitting light
the electric current was passed, light was produced. The invention was not commercial produced since the raw material platinum was expensive. The invention or modification of light bulb is attributed to two scientists. The first scientist, Joseph Wilson Swan made use of carbon paper as filament in the light bulbs built. Later on, the light bulbs were distributed in various parts of England. At the same time, Thomas Edison, an American did thousands of experiments before coming up with the right filament. In October 1879, Edison used a carbonated sewing thread to form the bulb’s filament, which was able to burn for long hours.