*This text was written by a TecMundo columnist; finally learn more.

When people think of famous physicists, the first thing that comes to mind is Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. The latter became so famous that even its appearance has become a reference for any scientist. Take a look at the number of messy white-haired scientists featured in works of fiction like movies and books.

However, the image of the profession of scientist cannot be associated only with a particular appearance or origin, since this is an extremely diverse profession, which, especially more recently, considers men, women, whites, blacks, among many other possibilities. The story of Michael Faraday, who lived between the 18th and 19th centuries and should be understood in the context of that period, is just one example of how scientists can come from different backgrounds.

Faraday was born into a humble English family and did not formally attend school after becoming literate. Basically, his entire education was spent working from the age of 14 on bookbinding, which he used to read. Reading about electricity as it was understood in his time, Faraday was fascinated by this invisible force that moves electrons and controls them in any way convenient for us.

Such learning led Faraday to attend a lecture by British chemist Humphry Davy, who was then director of the Royal British Institute (one of the world’s largest science centres), and invite him to do an internship. Davy also made numerous contributions to Chemistry, including the discovery of the existence of various elements, such as Oxygen. But despite this, many say his greatest discovery was Michael Faraday.

Faraday’s main work was the discovery of the physical phenomenon called electromagnetic induction. This phenomenon explains the generation of electricity in almost all power plants we use today. Whether it’s a hydroelectric, wind or nuclear power plant, Faraday’s work is central to generating the electrical power you’re currently using to read this text.

This phenomenon occurs when a magnetic field similar to that produced in a magnet, for example, crosses the surface of a closed electrical circuit. In this way, a physical quantity called magnetic flux is defined. This magnitude measures exactly how the magnetic field crosses the circuit. Faraday noticed that when the magnetic flux in a circuit changes with time, an electric current is induced in the circuit. It’s something we use to power our electronic equipment until today.

Therefore, Faraday’s scientific contributions are as revolutionary and important to human life as Newton’s or Einstein’s discoveries. His work was largely responsible for our understanding of electromagnetism, which governs all of our technology today. Therefore, knowing Faraday is essential for us to have the knowledge that people produce information and technologies that we often do not value in our daily lives.

Finally, it is natural that not all scientists are as well-known as Newton, Einstein, Darwin, Marie Curie or Faraday. However, always, yes, just like music, sports, dance, etc. But geniuses are the exception in all professions, and the vast majority of scientific work (and all other work) is done by ordinary people like you and me.

Rodolfo Lima Barros SouzaProfessor of Physics and columnist Technology World🇧🇷 He holds a master’s degree in Physics and Science and Mathematics Teaching in Public Perception of Science from Unicamp. Available on social networks as @rodolfo.sou.

Source: Tec Mundo

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I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.

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