- Inventor: Thomas Edison
- Why did the inventor create the invention? To provide a safe, reliable, and long-lasting source of electric light for homes and businesses, replacing dangerous and inefficient gas lamps and candles.
- When was the inventor born? February 11, 1847
- When did the inventor die? October 18, 1931
- How did the inventor create the invention? After testing thousands of materials for the filament, he successfully used a carbonized bamboo filament inside a vacuum-sealed glass bulb, which glowed brightly without burning out quickly.
- What was the inventor’s early life like? He had little formal schooling, was largely self-taught, and started working as a telegraph operator as a teenager. He began inventing at a young age, including improving telegraph equipment.
- What is the invention’s importance to the world? It revolutionized daily life by enabling people to work and socialize after dark, spurred the development of electrical power grids, and laid the foundation for modern lighting and electrical industries.
- What education did the inventor receive? He attended school for only a few months; his mother taught him at home. He was an avid reader and learned through independent study and hands-on experimentation.
- What are three interesting facts about the invention?
1. Edison filed over 1,000 patents related to electric lighting and power systems.
2. The first public demonstration of his practical incandescent lamp was on December 31, 1879, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
3. Although Edison perfected the first commercially viable bulb, he built upon earlier work by inventors like Joseph Swan.
- Draw a portrait of the inventor. [This section requires a hand-drawn or digitally created image; no text description can fulfill this requirement.]
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of research worksheet for middle school.
