Abstract

For the most part the early history of electricity and magnetism are linked. Initially they were thought one, then experimenters found electricity had some different properties. Electricity and magnetism then advanced separately, until Hans Christian Orsted (1777-1851) discovered in 1820 that current-carrying wires could induce magnetic needles to move in a direction perpendicular to the wire. One main question which arose from Orsted's experiment was 'Since electricity can produce magnetism, could magnetism produce electricity'. Michael Faraday (1791-1867) provided the answer in 1831 with the invention of magnetic induction, the electric transformer, and united the two forces once again.

In this paper, the development of magnetics is closely followed until electricity moves to the forefront. The development of electricity is then traced to Faraday's demonstration of the interrelationship between electricity and magnetism. The paper ends with a short biography of Michael Faraday, the man science remembers for providing the lasting union of the two forces.