Vocabulary

• vacuum
• arc light
• William Sawyer
• Humphrey David
• electromagnetic generation
• "brainstorming"
• incandescent light
• Joseph Swan
• filament
• Michael Farraday
• capitalist
• low resistance system
• The Muckers
• J.P. Morgan
• high resistance system

Discussion Questions

1. What is the difference between an arc light and an incandescent light?
2. What city was first illuminated by arc lights?
3. How did Thomas Edison convince J.P. Morgan to fund his work on the electric light?
4. Who were "the boys" or "the muckers?" What was it about Menlo Park and Thomas Edison's management philosophy that helped him to succeed where others failed?
5. What were Thomas Edison's work habits? Do you think he would have been a tough boss?
6. What were the key components of Edison's electric light? Why was the pressure on in 1879? What component proved to be the most difficult to produce?
7. Why were Sawyer and Swan considered runners up to Edison in the race to invent the incandescent light?
8. Why did Edison chose to demonstrate his electric light system in Lower Manhattan near Wall Street? How did he woo New York politicians to allow him to install his system of electric lights? Why is he thought of as a master salesman?

Research Projects

1. Find a diagram of an early attempt at an incandescent light and Edison's successful invention. Draw a diagram of each and write a paragraph comparing the two. What made Edison's light successful?
2. "Luck plays an important part in the invention process." Using examples from Edison's work on the electric light, defend or attack this statement.