All About Michael Faraday Inventions List, Biography, and Facts

Michael Faraday was an extraordinary scientist who lived from 1791 to 1867 in England. He was a Physicist cum Chemist. The Michael Faraday inventions list includes the concept of electromagnetic induction and the laws of electrolysis. The most important Michael Faraday contribution to science was the production of an electric current through a magnetic field. He explained diamagnetism and the direct current conduction theory. Even though he came from poverty, his invention of rotary devices that work on electromagnetism was the basis for electric motor mechanics. Faraday invented the dynamo as a result, and the ‘Faraday’ unit in physics is named after him. The invention of the ‘Faraday Cage’ proved that electricity was a mere force. In chemistry, Faraday discovered the organic compound Benzene and the oxidation numbers of elements. 

Biography

The Biography of Michael Faraday began on September 22nd 1791, when he was born in London, United Kingdom. Despite his poverty-ridden childhood, he worked to support his basic education at a bookshop. He learnt to read and write in the church in Sunday school. Soon he started experimenting with the scientific knowledge he gathered by reading. After attending some lectures by scientist Humphry Davy, he started working as his assistant in his chemistry laboratory. From then onwards started the exciting life of Michael Faraday in science, which led him to pioneer many basic laws and concepts in physics and chemistry. The Michael Faraday inventions list spreads across the years 1821 to 1845. This is based on Michael Faraday contribution and a life devoted to science. 

The Michael Faraday Inventions List

This is Michael Faraday contribution to science and technology in his Biography as a scientist listed according to the year of discovery. It includes some Michael Faraday facts based on the scientific experiments he carried out.  

• Electromagnetic rotation discovery (1821)
• Liquefaction of gases and their refrigeration (1823)
• Benzene discovery (1825)
• Electromagnetic induction discovery (1831)
• Laws of electrolysis (1834)
• Faraday cage concept (1836)
• Faraday Effect discovery (1845)
• Diamagnetism Discovery (1845)

Michael Faraday Contribution to Physics 

Amongst the Michael Faraday inventions list is the concept of electromagnetic rotation, through which he invented an electric motor. To prove this, he placed a magnet in a pool of mercury. When a wire was extended to this pool, it rotated around the magnet after being connected to a chemical battery. This was because an electric current caused a circular motion. 

In the electromagnetic induction experiment, he wrapped two different insulated wires around a ring of iron. When electric current was made to pass through one wire set, it produced current through the other set too. He later found that if a wire loop was made to move over a magnet, current flowed through the loop. This proved that a change in the magnetic field gave rise to an electric field. Hence kinetic energy could now be changed into electrical energy. Today, electricity is produced on a large scale due to Michael Faraday’s contribution of electromagnetic induction in which kinetic energy caused by the rotation of large turbines with wind, water or steam is converted into electrical current.

The Michael Faraday inventions list also includes the Faraday Cage invention. Here the extra charge developed in a charged electric conductor is only present on its exterior. This was amongst the Michael Faraday facts that electricity was only a force which was otherwise believed to be fluid. 

The Faraday Effect was another one of Michael Faraday’s facts that there is a rotation of the light polarisation plane when influenced by a magnetic field. Also called the magneto-optical effect, it was discovered in 1845. 

Faraday also coined the diamagnetism concept, in which he found that almost all materials are diamagnetic. If a diamagnetic material is kept close to the magnet’s north pole, it gets repulsed. 

The Michael Faraday Contribution to Chemistry 

The gas liquefaction concept was proved by Faraday when he applied high pressure to liquefy gases like chlorine or ammonia. If the liquid ammonia is allowed to return to its gaseous state again, it causes cooling. This is practically made use of in the refrigerators with mechanical pumps liquefying gases which, when allowed to evaporate again, cause cooling within. This cycle occurs continually within a typical modern refrigerator. 

Faraday also discovered the presence of the compound benzene in the residue left over from gas being used as a lighting source in the city. He synthesised compounds (C2Cl6, C2Cl4) from chlorine with carbon. He elaborated on the constituents of the chlorine Clathrates. The electrolysis concept and laws were amongst those set by Faraday too. Electrochemistry invention has made the powering of today’s mobile phones a practical reality with Lithium-ion batteries. The Bunsen burner used extensively in chemistry was pre-invented by Faraday. 

Conclusion

Despite his poor upbringing, Michael Faraday’s inquisitive mind led him to educate himself. He did not stop there but went on in search of scientific truths and inventions. Today, many basic concepts of science and chemistry work on laws that Faraday set. His search for generating electricity was set by the law of electromagnetic induction. An electric motor was first invented by Faraday when he discovered electromagnetic rotation.