Systematic Study Begins – Electromagnetism (16-18th Century)

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Discover how two centuries of bold experimentation and brilliant insight transformed electricity and magnetism from mysterious natural forces into a precise, measurable science!

History of electromagnetism: 16 - 18th Century - Ubuntu Tuskegee

This panel illustrates the crucial period between the 16th and 18th centuries when scientists began to move electricity and magnetism from mere curiosities to organized, measurable scientific fields. The panel is split into two key historical moments, now with detailed definitions of Coulomb’s Law added.

Left Panel: The 16th Century – William Gilbert

This section features William Gilbert (late 1500s), a physician to Queen Elizabeth I. He is considered the father of electrical engineering and magnetism.
Gilbert is shown in his study, holding a small, spherical lodestone, which he called a terrella (“little Earth”). He is demonstrating its magnetic properties to an assistant.
The text box explains his great leap in understanding: “Gilbert proposed the Earth itself is a giant magnet.”
- Before this, people thought the North Star or a mysterious island drew compass needles north. Gilbert’s experiment proved that the planet itself was the source of the magnetic force, which is why compasses align north-south.
- He is also credited with distinguishing between lodestone magnetism and the “static” effect produced by rubbing amber (which he named electricus).

Right Side: The 18th Century – Franklin and Coulomb

This section of the panel highlights two key figures from the 18th century who advanced the scientific study of electricity.

Top Scene: Benjamin Franklin’s Experiment
- Benjamin Franklin, the famous American polymath, is shown conducting his dangerous 1752 kite experiment.
- Standing in a rainstorm, Franklin is flying a kite with a metal key near the string. A bolt of lightning strikes the key, and a brilliant arc of electricity jumps to a Leyden jar (an early device for storing static charge).
- A thought bubble above him confirms his conclusion: “Lightning is electricity!” This bold experiment proved that the static electricity generated in a lab was the same phenomenon as the massive, destructive power of a thunderstorm.

Bottom Scene: Charles-Augustin de Coulomb’s Law
- Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, a French military engineer and physicist.
- Coulomb is in his laboratory, carefully working with an intricate device called a torsion balance. This instrument was designed to be extremely sensitive, allowing him to measure the incredibly weak forces of attraction and repulsion between tiny, electrically charged spheres.
- The diagram next to him shows the principle of his work, now known as Coulomb’s Law (seen in the equation

F = k \frac{q_1q_2}{r^2}

This was monumental because it showed that electrical force could be measured and calculated with mathematical precision, just like gravity.

(Coulomb’s Law Definitions)
- k: Electrostatic Constant (or Coulomb’s Constant): A proportionality constant that depends on the material the charges are in.
- q₁: Magnitude of Charge 1: The amount of electrical charge on the first object.
- q₂: Magnitude of Charge 2: The amount of electrical charge on the second object.
- r: Separation Distance: The distance measured between the centers of the two charges.