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.