TED-ED: Electric vocabulary - James Sheils

The video explores the historical development of electric vocabulary, starting with Thales of Miletus and the term 'electron' for amber. It covers William Gilbert's experiments, Charles Dufay's discoveries, and Benjamin Franklin's innovations, including the concept of an electric battery. Franklin's theory of electrical fluid and charges influenced scientific inquiry for 150 years. The video concludes with the discovery of electrons by J.J. Thompson, highlighting the evolution of understanding in electricity.

What was Franklin's concept of the 'electrical fluid'?

What did J.J. Thompson discover about the electrical fluid in 1897?

Why do people continue to use Franklin's vocabulary despite the discovery of electrons?