10 key historical energy events

By kbrintle

  • Static electricity and lightening

    Static electricity and lightening
    Ben Franklin conducted an experiment where he tied a key to a kite string during a thunderstorm, and proved that static electricity and lightening were the same thing
  • Period: to

    Energy Events

  • First self-propelled vehicle

    First self-propelled vehicle
    Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first self-propelled vehicle, a military tractor that ran on steam. It could go 2.5 miles per hour. Exact date unknown.

  • First electric battery

    First electric battery
    Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery. The term volt is named in his honor. The exact date of his discovery is unknown.

  • First internal combustion engine

    First internal combustion engine
    Samuel Morey developed an engine that ran on ethanol and turpentine.

  • First electric motor

    First electric motor
    Thomas Davenport nvented the electric motor, an invention that is used in most electrical appliances today.

  • The Telegraph

    The Telegraph
    Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph, a machine that could send messages long distances across wires.

  • Solar radiation --> mechanical power

    Solar radiation --> mechanical power
    Auguste Mouchout , a mathematics instructor, was able to convert solar radiation directly into mechanical power. Exact date unknown.

  • First Solar Cell

    First Solar Cell
    American inventor Charles Fritts turned the sun's rays into electricity with the first solar cell. Exact date unknown.

  • Model T

    Model T
    Henry Ford produced the Model T. As a flexible fuel vehicle, it could run on ethanol, gasoline, or a combination of the two. Exact date unknown.

  • First nuclear weapon

    First nuclear weapon
    The first test of a nuclear weapon, code-named Trinity, occurred at Alamogordo, New Mexico.