Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943)By Keval Vashi

IntroductionNikola Tesla was a Serbian-

American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and physicist.

He is mostly known for contributing to making electricity commercial

Inventor of AC (Alternating Current)

A long term rival to Thomas Edison

Personal LifeBorn in 1856 in Smiljan, Austrian

Empire (Modern-day Croatia) Died in Manhattan, New York,

USAHad one brother and three sistersBorn as a Serbian but later

becoming a naturalised American citizen.

Raised as an Orthodox Christian

EducationAttended Primary School in

Smiljan, Austria studying German, arithmetic and religion.

Tesla moved to Karlovac, Croatia Higher Real Gymnasium graduating in 1873.

He later attended Graz University of Technology passing nine exams, but not able to graduate due to dropping out

Inventions and AchivementsTesla invented AC (Alternating Current), AC is

the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences.

AC is still used in present dayTesla also established Tesla Coil – A type of

transformer circuit Wireless Communication – The transfer of

information without the use of enhanced electrical wires.

The Tesla electric car – An electrical motor prototype that inhibited a brushless design

Wins a contract to power the Niagara Falls with his Alternative Current system

United StatesOn the 6th of June1884 he arrived in the

USA in New York CityOn 30th July 1891, at the age of 35,

Tesla became a naturalised citizen of the United States

In1893 at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago he popularised alternating current.

In 1886, Tesla forms his own corporation “Tesla Electric Light and Manufacturing”

Tesla – Edison rivalry In 1882, Tesla began working for Thomas Edison at

the Continental Edison Company in France Tesla claimed that he could redesign Edison's

inefficient motor and generators Edison remarked, "There's fifty thousand dollars in it

for you—if you can do it” Tesla fulfilled the task and inquired about payment,

however Edison was only joking and had agreed to increase Tesla payrise, though Tesla resigned immediately.

In contention, Edison had created DC (Direct Current) to rival Tesla’s AC electrical system, however would soon diminish to AC.

Both refused ever to accept the Nobel Peace Prize award if any of them received it first

Legacy and Honors In 1931, on his birthday, he was on the cover of the

Time Magazine, receiving congratulatory letters from more than 70 pioneers in science and engineering, including Albert Einstein

A lunar crater on the far side of the moon is named after him “Tesla”

A monument to Tesla was established at Niagara Falls, New York

An electrical car company “Tesla Motors” named their company in tribute to Tesla

The Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Serbia’s primary international airport was named after him

The Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade Nikola Tesla appears on 100 Serbian dinar banknote.

DeathHe died in 1943 on the 7th of

January, in Manhattan, New York, USA at the age of 86

He died unmarried Tesla’s funeral took place on the

12th of January 1943 at the Cathedral of Saint Joint

His body was taken to Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1957

“The desire that guides me in all I do is the desire to harness the forces of nature to the service of mankind.”