Wikijunior:Famous Inventors/Inventors in Everyday Uses/Thomas Edison

When, Where, and to whom was he or she born?


Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, (on February 11, 1847) and was raised in Port Huron, Michigan. He was the seventh and last child of Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. (1804–1896) (born in Marshalltown, Nova Scotia, Canada) and Nancy Matthews Edison née Elliott (1810–1871). His family was of Dutch origin.

What was his or her childhood like?
In school, Thomas Edison wasn't a really good student. People think this may have been partly because he couldn't hear well, so that he didn't pay attention to the teacher as much as he should have. Also, in those days some teachers thought students shouldn't ask questions, and apparently he asked a lot of questions. His teacher said he was "addled". He only stayed in school for three months; after that, his mother taught him.

Why did this person become interested in science?
Thomas Edison loved to read and he became interested in science from books. At the age of 10, he set up a small Laboratory in his room. He spent most of his time reading or trying out a new experiment.

Where did this person go to school?
He went to school in Port Huron, Michigan. But he only went to school for three months.

What problem did he or she uncover that needed solving?
The problem he needed solving is that how to make the electric light bulb last longer than the ones that other inventors invented.  Did You Know?
 * He helped create over 1,000 inventions!
 * He produced the first talking motion picture.
 * He worked for the navy in World War I.

What solutions had already been tried that did not solve the problem? Why wasn't it working?
The solutions that had already been tried that did not solve the problem are that he used platinum and other filaments that did not work, he tried many times and every one, failed. After many Failures he used a carbon filament and it lasted 40 hours.

What did this person invent?


Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. The phonograph was the first invention that could record the sound of someone's voice and play it back to them. In 1877 he recited the poem "Mary had a little lamb" and the phonograph played it back to him.

He solved the problem of providing light for the world.

How has this inventor changed people and the world?
He helped in the creation of the light bulb. If he hadn't helped we probably wouldn't have long lasting light bulbs like we do now. It gave light to the world.

If you could ask this inventor one question, what would you ask?
If I could ask this inventor one question, I would ask him how he was inspired to be an inventor.

If you could bring this inventor to today and tell him or her one thing, what would you tell him or her about the effect of his or her invention?
Was it hard work?