Electronics History

Introduction
People have known about static electricity for thousands of years. (Microsoft Corp) Biblical references to lighting were a reflection of God’s wrath. (Canby) Science did not make concern itself until the 1700s. (Microsoft Corp)
Early ideas
The Greeks, as early a 600 BC, rubbed amber and thought it had properties, also lodestone was thought to hold some type of attraction. (Canby) But, for almost 2000 years very little was done until the 1600s, Wm Gillbert discusses magnetism and amber’s attraction. (Canby) In 1745 Dutch person, Prof Musschenbroek, invents the Leyden jar, a crude capacitor. (Dummer) Ben Franklin discusses his theory electricity and in 1752 Franklin is credited with the first lighting rod. In 1772 iron dust filings reveal the magnetic lines of force, which lead to inductors or a beginning of a solenoid. (Dummer and Canby) In 1774, Lesage installs a primitive telegraph at Geneva, using 24 wires and glass tubes. (Canby). In 1775 Volta, invents electrophorus, and later the voltmeter. (Canby). In 1785, Colomb proves the inverse sq. law. (Canby). In 1786, Galvani electrifies frog legs. Again, Volta in 1796 invents the first battery. (Canby) Oersted, in 1820 discovers that a current can create a magnetic field. Also in 1820 Ampere develops terminology for electric current. In 1821 Faraday establishes the fact that a charge on the outside of a conductor produces
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no electric field. (Canby) In 1827 Ohm’s law is published. (Microsoft) All these great ideas, inventions, and more can be put on to graphic organizers by chronology, brainstorming, logical connections or just connections with no logic. See the attached graphic organizers (Appendix B) and pick the one that suits the situation(s).
The Start of Electronics
As mention in the beginning of this abstract Electricity and Electronic have a shared beginning. The two-shared phenomena are static electricity and magnetism. To physicists before the 19th century, electricity, magnetism and light seemed like entirely distinct phenomena. By the early 1800’s, work by Galvani, Oersted, and Faraday on galvanism, electromagnetism, and electromagnetic induction opened up a new field of experimental work which ultimately paved the way to present day electronic. (Dummer) In 1865 James Clark Maxwell publishes his paper "A Dynamical Theory of Electromagnetic Field." These two great ideas were put together (Canby).
The early 1800s was a time of great progress in theories and inventions. (Dummer) Infrared and ultra-violet radiation was discovered. Dalton’s atomic theory is put forward in 1808. Thermoelectricity, electrolysis, and the photovoltaic effect were all discovered before 1840. Work on low-pressure discharge tubes, glow discharges, new types of battery and the early microphone took place in the 20 years. (Dummer) So, between 1800 and 1875 basic physical phenomena were discovered, culminating in the practical applications of the telephone, phonograph, microphones and loudspeakers. Towards the end of the 1800s, wireless telegraphy, magnetic recording, and the cathode-ray oscillograph were all developed. (Dummer)
As corporations started to develop, one can see a shift from the individual to the industrial organization of the development of electronics. (Antebi) The great individuals such a George Westinghouse, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison, to mention these few, begin to submerge to the collective of corporate organization. (Antebi)
As the 20th century begins we see Marconi’s wireless transatlantic radio signal. (Canby) Rutherford’s atomic model in 1911 and Bohr’s 1913 electron orbital theory corresponded to various permissible energy levels. (Dummer)
The early 1900s also saw the beginnings of the present-day electronic technologies. The 3-electrode valve opened the way to radio broadcasting and the Campbell-Swinton theory of television. But, it is WW1 that accelerates the pace for the development of electronics. (Dummer)
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• WW1 marked the impetus to develop radio communications with components such as resistors and capacitors. (Dummer) In 1920, Pittsburgh’s KDKA broadcast the 1st scheduled radio program for Westinghouse Corp. In 1925, Bell Telephone Lab invents a mechanism for recording sound electrically. (Canby) But, it is WW2 that had tremendously effect on components since the War was to be fought in climates all around the world. WW2 requirements were of the following nature:
• 1.Standardization-for faster production
• 2. Miniaturization-for aircraft, submarines, etc
• 3. Reliability-no component failures
• 4. Maintainability-quick replacement
• 5. Transport hazards-an ability to handle shocks
• 6. Mechanical shocks-impact of shells and parachute landing
• 7. Storage-long periods of use
• 8. Hot and cold temperatures
• 9. Humidity-tropics
• 10. High Altitude-high flying aircraft
• 11. Combined environments-8, 9, and 10 above
• 12. High Powers- increase range radio and radar
• 13. Radiation resistance- to withstand nuclear environment (Dummer)
Perhaps one of most important developments of the WW2 started before the War that is RADAR. It had tremendous effect on the War and should not be overlooked. (Dummer) Using radar the "Battle of Britain 1940" was won. Moreover, with the British using radar in its night bombing it hastens the end to the War. (Dummer)
After the WW2, many Europeans came to the USA bringing their ideas. This brain drain led to increased inventions in the USA that would continue until the 1960s. Furthermore, in 1946 printed circuit began to be used with miniature tubes. But, again in 1948, Bell Labs invented the transistor, which replaced the vacuum tube. (Dummer)
Integrated circuits appeared in the early 1950s. (Dummer) Resistors such as nickel chromium film is developed in 1957. (Dummer) The solid electric capacitor was developed in 1956. (Dummer)
Recent Developments
The development of the integrated circuits has revolutionized communication, information handling, warfare, and computing. Integrated circuits reduce the size of devices and lower manufacturing costs, while providing speed and reliability. Digitalization even further reduces size, increases speed, and lower costs. (Microsoft)
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Electronics improves medicine with use of MRI and the CAT. (Microsoft)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), medical diagnostic technique that creates images of the body using the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance. A versatile, powerful, and sensitive tool, MRI can generate thin-section images of any part of the body—including organs such as the heart, lungs, arteries and veins for any angle and direction, without surgical invasion and in a cross section of the human body. These maps give basic biomedical and anatomical information that provides great help in diagnosis. (Microsoft)
MCI is possible in the human body because the body is filled with small biological "magnet," the most abundant and responsive of which is the proton, the nucleus of the hydrogen atom. The principles of MRI take advantage of the random distribution of protons, which possess fundamental magnetic properties. Once the patient is placed in the cylindrical magnet, the diagnostic process follows 3 basic steps. First, MRI creates a steady state within the body by placing the body in a steady magnetic field that’s 30,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field. Then MRI stimulates the body with radio waves to change the steady-state orientation of protons. It then stops the radio waves and "listens" to the body’s electromagnetic transmissions at a selected frequency. The transmitted signal is used to construct internal images of the body. (Microsoft)
The CAT scan, or computed axial tomography, is medical technology that uses X- rays and computers to produce three-dimensional images of the human body. (Microsoft)
The CT scanner contains an X-ray source, which emits beams of X-ray; an X-ray detector, which monitors the number of X rays that strikes various parts of its surface; and a computer. The source and detector face each other on the inside of the scanner ring and are mounted so they rotate around the rim of the scanner. Beans from the X-ray source pass through the human and are recorded on the other side by the detector. As the source and detector rotate in a three hundred sixty degree circle around the patient, X-ray emissions are recorded from many angles. The resulting data are sent to the computer, which interprets the information and translates it into images that appear as cross-sections on a television monitor. (Microsoft)
Both, the CT and MRI are used to create diagnostic images for better treatment of internal problems. (Microsoft)
Today’s research is used to increase speed, reduce size, and improve reliability. Very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits that contain several hundred thousand components on a single chip have been developed. Superconducting circuits using
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Josephson junctions that operate at temperature near absolute zero will replace very-high-speed computers. (Microsoft)
Strategies
One can use any history or scientific ideas, even all the abovementioned and put them on graphic organizers. The attached graphic organizers are provided to do so. Moreover, lesson and activities can be designed to fit the National Teaching and Learning Standards that were adapted for the state of Pa. (See Appendix A)
Classroom Activities
One can choose any of the graphic organizers provided (See Appendix B) and do various sections of this "Brief History of Electronics." Or, one may choose only certain time period(s) or specific invention(s) for a chapter, unit, or a constant practice of integrating graphic organizers in all lessons.
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Bibliography
1. Standards- Based SCIENCE Graphic Organizers, Rubrics, and Writing Prompts for Middle Students. By Incentive Publisher, Inc. Nashville, TN. 2001.
2. Novak, J.D. and Gowin, B.D. Learning How to Learn. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. 1984.
3. Bueche, Frederick J. Principles of Physics: Copyright 1988, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY.
4. Dobson, Ken. Science Spectrum: New York: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2001.
5. Canby, Edward Tatnall. A History of Electricity: New York: Hawthorn Books Inc., 1963.
6. Antebi, Elizabeth. The Electronic Epoch: New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold
Company, 1982.
7. Dummer, G.W.A. Electronic Inventions and Discovers: New Yor: Pergamon
Press, 1983
8. Landis, Fred. Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002: Microsoft Corp. 1993-2001.
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