Introduction
Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia (then part of Austria-Hungary) on July9, 1856, and died January 7, 1943. He was the electrical engineer whoinvented the AC (alternating current) induction motor, which made theuniversal transmission and distribution of electricity possible. Teslabegan his studies in physics and mathematics at Graz Polytechnic, andthen took philosophy at the University of Prague. He worked as anelectrical engineer in Budapest, Hungary, and subsequently in Franceand Germany. In 1888 his discovery that a magnetic field could bemade to rotate if two coils at right angles are supplied with AC current90Á out of phase made possible the invention of the AC inductionmotor. The major advantage of this motor being its brush lessoperation, which many at the time believed impossible.Tesla moved to the United States in 1884, where he worked forThomas Edison who quickly became a rival Edison being an advocateof the inferior DC power transmission system. During this time, Teslawas commissioned with the design of the AC generators installed atNiagara Falls. George Westinghouse purchased the patents to hisinduction motor, and made it the basis of the Westinghouse powersystem which still underlies the modern electrical power industrytoday. He also did notable research on high-voltage electricity andwireless communication; at one point creating an earthquake whichshook the ground for several miles around his New York laboratory. Healso devised a system which anticipated worldwide wirelesscommunications, fax machines, radar, radio- guided missiles andaircraft.Nikola Tesla is the true unsung prophet of the electronic age; withoutwhom our radio, auto ignition, telephone, alternating current powergeneration and transmission, radio and television would all have beenimpossible. Yet his life and times have vanished largely from publicaccess. This autobiography is released to remedy this situation.
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