Inventor's Name: Thomas Edison

 

Invention: the Light Bulb

 

Group Members First Names:  Miss Bosch

 

Story of the Inventor:

Thomas Edison attended school for only three months, but created many inventions which changed the world.  When he was young he sold newspapers on a train and learned to use the telegraph. His first invention was a vote recorder.  He also invented the phonograph, but the invention that he is most famous for is the light bulb.  He died at age 84 on the anniversary of his invention of the light bulb.

Story of the Invention:

Although other people tried to invent a light bulb, Edison was the first person to find a way to practical way to make one.  The filament in his bulb was made from carbon, but now they are made from tungsten.  It was invented in 1879.  Edison's bulb was able to glow for 1500 hours.

Story of the Impact of the Invention:

The light bulb changed the way people live.  Because of the light bullb, people are able to work, read,  study, and play after the sun has gone down.  Now people stay up much later at night then they used to.  Stores can stay open for 24 hours and people can shop when it is dark.  Other inventions like the TV and computer games also use light to entertain us.

Story of the Future of the Invention:

I think many light bulbs should be replaced with new bulbs that don't take as much energy.  Light bulbs that run off solar energy should be used as much as possible.  Cities should work to develop street lights that run off solar energy. 

Links: 

http://library.christchurch.org.nz/kids/inventions/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/e/edison.shtml

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/edison.htm

http://www.edisonian.com/

http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/1_1_search.asp