The Discovery of Electricity

Electromagnetic telegraphy naturally implements binary encoding—current either flows or doesn’t—enabling message transmission through temporal on-off patterns.

Volta discovered that chaining electrochemical cells together amplifies charge flow—each additional cell increases total electrical pressure proportionally.

Electrochemical cells produce sustained electrical flow fundamentally different from static electricity’s instantaneous discharge.

The voltaic pile enabled investigating “current”—sustained directional flow of electrical charge through conductors, distinct from static electricity’s non-flowing accumulation.

A simple experiment with two dissimilar metals (copper and zinc) submerged in vinegar reveals fundamentally different electrical behavior from static electricity.

Oersted’s discovery immediately suggested practical application: sending electrical signals through wires to deflect remote compasses or electromagnets, enabling long-distance communication.

The convergence of voltaic electricity, electromagnetism, and binary encoding launched the information age—transforming human civilization through instant long-distance communication.

In 1820, Hans Christian Oersted discovered that electric current deflects compass needles—revealing electricity and magnetism’s deep connection, overturning centuries of viewing them as separate phenomena.

By 1800, Alessandro Volta simplified electrochemical cell design into the voltaic pile—the first true battery providing portable, sustained electrical power.