Unit 10_The development of the lightbulb

Thomas Edison is generally credited with the invention of the light bulb. In fact, he was just one inventor among many involved in the process of moving the concept of incandescent light from inspiration to marketable reality.

What does "inventor" mean?

• a person who creates new things

• a person who puts money into a business

• a right to an invention granted by the government

• a legal decision

Thomas Edison is generally credited with the invention of the light bulb. In fact, he was just one inventor among many involved in the process of moving the concept of incandescent light from inspiration to marketable reality.

What does "inspiration" mean?

• a sudden good idea; a role model for creativity

• a machine or tool

• an action that breaks a rule or law

• a right to an invention granted by the government

In 1880, he improved his idea, producing a filament derived from bamboo that burned for 1,200 hours.

What does "derive" mean?

• not legal or correct

• appropriate, acceptable for something

• to get something from something else, originate

• to officially record something

Other inventors worked on refinements of this idea.

What does "refinement" mean?

• an action that breaks a rule or law

• improvement

• a legal decision

• a right to an invention granted by the government

In 1835, James Lindsay unveiled an electric lamp, which cast enough light to read a book one and a half feet away.

What does "unveil" mean?

• to hold tightly

• to support, esp. financially

• to get something from something else, originate

• to make public; uncover

In 1854, Henrich Globel created the first actual lightbulb – a glass bulb containing a filament that glowed when electrical current passed through it.

What does "current" mean?

• a machine or tool

• very important

• a flow of electricity, water, or air

• appropriate, acceptable for something

Then, Hermann Sprengel developed the Sprengel Pump, a device that used mercury to create a vaccum.

What does "device" mean?

• improvement

• a machine or tool

• a legal decision

• a right to an invention granted by the government

In 1874, Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans filed a patent for a light specifically described as “a shaped piece of carbon held between two electrodes enclosed in a glass vessel.”

What does "file" mean?

• to support, esp. financially

• to officially record something

• to search thoroughly, often violently or carelessly

• to get something from something else, originate

In 1874, Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans filed a patent for a light specifically described as “a shaped piece of carbon held between two electrodes enclosed in a glass vessel.”

What does "patent" mean?

• an action that breaks a rule or law

• a legal decision

• a sudden good idea; a role model for creativity

• a right to an invention granted by the government

In 1874, Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans filed a patent for a light specifically described as “a shaped piece of carbon held between two electrodes enclosed in a glass vessel.”

What does "specifically" mean?

• exactly; for a particular reason

• appropriate, acceptable for something

• not legal or correct

• very important