Surprising History & Physics of the AC Transformer

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

I thought this pinned comment could be a good place for people to add (respectfully) things in history and physics that you think I made mistakes on. Please nothing about sound quality or other superficials in this thread. Let me start: 1) 4:40 I said that Lenz didn't use shock because it wasn't mathematical, but (after thinking about it) it was probably because the magnets at the time were not strong enough to cause a discernable shock. 2) 28:40 I said that Westinghouse started his company in January 1886 without a working AC system, but he had told Stanley to work on AC as soon as he heard about Gaulard in the summer of 1885, so he probably had a working AC system by then, just one without working transformers. 3) 31:10 I cut out that Stanley not only claimed to be the inventor of the industrial AC transformer, he also claimed to be the person who convinced a reluctant Westinghouse to take a risk on the project. Stanley was a real piece of work in my opinion.

[@TomFarrell-p9z]

Not sure if this is a mistake, but around 10:25 you mentioned that Fizeau called what we today call a capacitor a "condenser" and said physicists generally used "capacitor". But I thought condenser was a fairly common term for it, even into the 1930's or so. A very interesting video Kathy. Thank you! Please consider a follow-up someday on the history of audio transformers which solved some of the early problems in telephony.

[@bobvines00]

The "pinning" of this comment at the beginning of comments isn't working -- it's way down in the list of comments.

[@Rahat2056]

@@bobvines00 It works for me as of 3 hours later.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thanks for pointing that out. Don’t know why the first pinning didn’t stick.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

That is interesting. As far as I can, tell, most physicist, called it a capacitor and continued to call capacitors and most engineers called them condensers, and everyone called them Leyden jars

[@andyfeimsternfei8408]

Thank you, Kathy! I have spent the last 43 years working on electrical equipment dating from the early 1890s, and it is a joy to see someone doing such detailed research on topics so misrepresented throughout history. You're a treasure!

[@DavidMFChapman]

This is a complicated story and I admire your skill and determination in digging down into the details of technology that we all take for granted nowadays.

[@malatestov]

Hi Kathy! I am an electric engineer from Spain, and I can't thank you enough for your amazing work. Going through the history of electricity with you is a joy. I will share your videos with my colleagues and other Spanish science communicators. This stories have to be known!

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

That is wonderful. I added subtitles in English to this and all my videos and think I made it so that you can use Google translate to translate the subtitles into Spanish and then check them so that they make a bit of sense and put them back in for others to enjoy. (if that makes sense) Please tell me if there is anything I can do to help. Wish I could speak many languages like you do, but as you can tell from my accent, I can barely handle one :P Kathy

[@malatestov]

​@@Kathy_Loves_Physics I usually watch your videos in English, without subtitles. But after your comment I tried the automatic translation in the subtitles of this video and I'm surprised how well it works. I wish I had had you as a teacher in my university years. How lucky your students are... By the way, congratulations to the Wild Hand Waver, she does a wonderful work too! XD

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

The wild hand waiver needs compliments as she never takes a break. 🤣 I pay a company to make English captions for all my videos after watching a lovely lady on KZbin who is deaf talk about how important it is. As the English translation is mostly accurate, the automatic language, translation is a lot better than you would expect.

[@Ice_Karma]

@@Kathy_Loves_Physics I'm HoH and I really appreciate your high-quality captions! Any chance I could get the title of the video you watched, or maybe even a link to it? 😻

[@robertrgld9177]

@@malatestovalgunos consejos para los que empezamos la carrera?

[@miken7629]

I think the guy who invented coated copper wire should deserve all the credit, everything was built off his invention.

[@sirwinston2368]

10/13/23 - OK, BSChE here practicing as a mechanical engineer for more than 30 years. I took two EE courses in college. Was never a fan of electromagnetism. Fast forward 30+ years and I am making up for lost time. I recently took an undergrad class in Electrodynamics (Griffiths, 4th ed.). Studying QM and DiffEq in my spare time and watching all the "Kathy" videos. They are amazing. Thank you Kathy. sw

[@doriananreiterviii-ij3cz]

i am watching this vid again. for fourth or fifth time.this vid is amazing. fundamental science with history.thank you so much.

[@bobpotter895]

I have worked in electrical engineering for 54 years. I like millions of others have accepted and used the formula and theories of these people of the past without much question. You bring the history of electricity to light in a wonderful and entertaining way. Thank you.

[@pjmoran42]

As an engineer, is pretty cool to hear all the backstory. We shyed away from history and did the equations. Keep up the great work!

[@affordablesolarguy]

All the back story? Not even close. The Tesla tower would have given wireless power to anyone in range for free, she conveniently left that out. None were even close to Tesla's genius vision and plan. The man deserves to be legend, it was capitalism that destroyed the vision. Greed , the commodification of what Tesla saw as a right to all men. for free, because it was.

[@lewislee9201]

Tesla is a legend, but his tower did not work. If it had been able to produce free power some "greedy" capitalist would have found a way to exploit it to his own advantage, and he would soon have been copied by other greedy capitalists. Capitalism is the solution, not the problem here. Also nothing is stopping you from developing Tesla's idea yourself to give the world free power. If the idea seems promising you'll find investors.

[@supermikeb]

@@affordablesolarguy The Tesla tower? Give me a break.

[@MrHichammohsen1]

I am not sure if we, the subscribers and watchers, really appreciate the research you do for us Kathy! You are the hero we need, but definitely not the one we deserve. This is not just teaching the history of electricity, but also a lesson on how to do research abjectively

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thank you but I think that everyone deserves to have well researched history and physics. We have just been told that it isn't important so few people put in the work (I think I will touch on why that happened in my next video). Cheers, Kathy

[@MrHichammohsen1]

First video i saw on this channel more than a year ago, made me rewatch the whole channel and left a comment on the last one you uploaded saying i finish all the videos and you hearted it! and now i have been on bell notification but still rewatch 4-5 episodes back on weekends to keep the info fresh.@@Kathy_Loves_Physics

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

My goodness that is so kind. Thank you.

[@davidwilkie9551]

Kathy loves Physics, and demonstrates how and why everyone should. Reductionist Observation makes a made-of-making elemental universe knowable. Thank you.

[@donberg01]

As a field engineer and inspector, your work is BRILLIANT! Most electricians, electronic technicians engineers don't know the historical facts as you present them & your book is facinating!

[@TexRenner]

While my computer was broken you have become very professional! I'm so glad to see that you're as filled with joy for your work as you ever were, and the spirit of wonderment that has made Kathy so compelling is alive.

[@rameshkp7860]

Super. Thank you so much. Excellent history of electricity.

[@willisfouts4838]

Young Miss Kathy, I must give credit where it’s due. As I’ve zipped through your channel, watching all and some over and again, I do believe I’m starting to piece this whole crazy story together. No, in fact I am -starting- to grasp these ideas and arguments and experiments and papers you’ve shared here, well enough to begin asking pertinent query, to myself, in my head of course! And you’re ability to share this knowledge, in your manner, cadence and diction … the exuberance on your face while you’re speaking about what you know. You enjoy. You, as a teacher must have many successes with students pursuing what you taught them. That’s a rare gift, dear friend. And you share it humbly, with zeal. Another wonderful attribute. Sorry for running on like that, but I couldn’t describe it with fewer words. 😂 Thank you. Another great video!! Can’t wait for the next one!

[@joecliffordson]

Well said. It is a very nice compliment to this beautiful woman. I just found her awesome channel today and felt the same immediately. Kathy is indeed mesmerizing. Her teaching style is a perfect balance of beauty, passion and information. Tantalizing our curiosity about our modern world. The history of these men is perfectly crowned with her teaching style. My brain will certainly be expanded as I review her work.

[@jomarescobido9314]

You just made another Faraday's fan! Thank you so much Ma'am Kathy!

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Fantastic

[@tonyc7352]

Somebody give this fantastic woman an award.

[@ralphomholt7239]

I've spent a lifetime exploring, explaining and presenting truth, to the best of my ability. BUT - You're truly AMAZING! In all sincerity, I thank you for all your efforts, devotion and RESULTS! You're not only a great researcher and educator; you're a great inspiration!

[@larryteslaspacexboringlawr739]

i will enjoy watching this many times over to make sure i get all the details

[@ramoncf7]

AC was a combined effort from brilliant minds, many times with people working in the same ideas simultaneously, just as it happened with many other inventions like the radio, plane, etc. Only in the movies they portray this geniuses which create in their lab everything from scratch. Thank you Kathy, as an electrical engineer these videos are invaluable.

[@adamschroeder2545]

Kathy!!! You are a tremendous, positive, and passionate source of knowledge and information on the history and physics of electricity! I stumbled upon your videos, and I now plan to watch them all. Thank you so much for your passion and dedication and helping others love these things as much as you do. Cheers!

[@garyradtke3252]

Thanks for the real history. I have learned over the years that most inventions aren't developed by one person but the conglomeration of ideas and experiments. The one that gets the credit is the one that combines all of the correct ideas and creates the success. I would bet the Write brothers used others failures and discoveries in flight to make decisions about their theories.

[@archstanton_live]

In these days when "I researched it." translates to: "I read a Wiki and watched some KZbins", it is most refreshing to see someone that has taken the research to the primary source level of "comments from contemporaries."

[@fecklesstech929]

Very entertaining video! I found the history lesson mixed with applied physics most riveting. You also corrected a lot of misinformation I was lugging around. I'm not a Tesla worshiper but I, like many, thought Tesla invented all early AC apparatus & switch gear. I thought Westinghouse was just the money man. I have a new respect for the pioneers of electric power generation and distribution who had to figure everything out the hard way. Today we have detailed engineering textbooks and free info from Google. 19th Century AC & DC power engineers had to gut it out empirically with only journal articles, theory, and lab notes to guide them. Great job Kathy. Thanks for pouring so much love & care into your research and the video. Top-shelf stuff.

[@curtvona4891]

This was an outstanding presentation! Thanks, Kathy.

[@msigbit]

46:00. “How did people miss this one”. You are a gem. Great research. I love your style.

[@Mik1604]

I have been (re)watching tons of your videos lately and I love it all so much. Truly one of the best parts in all of KZbin.

[@scottszalwinski8350]

One of Kathy's best !

[@cowboybob7093]

The content on this channel is so compact and accurate. It's also mostly new to me, the answers that is, not the questions. Because of that it feels almost disrespectful to not study each post and take notes.

[@kqschwarz]

I love this lady. She is tremendous at explanations, but does not water-down the material too much. She is a terrific educational resource.

[@erikziak1249]

A big shout out to Maxwell, Zipenrowsky, Déri and Blathy for their work, in which they recognized the previous authors on whom they build upon. This is in stark contrast to other individuals of their time. Kathy, I love your videos because you really do your own research and present facts and name them. I am really very happy to be able to write this comment now. It was people like those mentioned, that made the world advance and shrink, when we all, regardless of time or language barriers, might end up on the same page, as they say. I am truly grateful for this marvelous thing called the internet, for understanding the English language and for having access to the internet here, literally somewhere "nowhere" (I resist to call it middle of nowhere, as the middle is a special geographic location), writing this (and other) comments. I hope that my engagement in this comments section will boost the video. It really deserves it.

[@GlennElert]

At 6:38 you said "induction is a type of friction". Electrical resistance (R) is the analog of mechanical friction. Inductance (L) is the analog of mass. To complete the set, capacitance (C) is the analog of the spring constant, which makes an RCL circuit the analog of a damped simple harmonic oscillator.

[@paulmicks7097]

So well done and complete, refreshing delivery of information, thank you K

[@drsjamesserra]

I’m glad I found your channel after searching Maxwell’s equations.

[@alvaug2]

I just love "Kathy Loves Physics Team". Quite courageous and determined!

[@robharrington71]

This was a fascinating breakdown, Kathy. Thanks for putting in so much work and explaining it so well.

[@RedBull2k555]

I appreciate all your research and charisma. Awesome video. Thank you

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thank you.

[@erikziak1249]

24:26 Worth mentioning that those stacked plates were electrically insulated from each other, as this is essential in suppressing those eddy currents that generate heat = loss.

[@SteveeCee]

Hey Kathy, I have just watched the movie Oppenheimer, my enjoyment of the 3hr epic was made much greater from previously watching your physics series with background on Heisenberg and others of that time.

[@CHAS1422]

I think you are my favorite historian especially in science. Bravo! This is worthy of a PBS series on the level of Ken Burns.

[@SpinStar1956]

Michael Faraday is by far my very-most favorite scientist/inventor above them all. I wouldn't give an ounce of Faraday's intuition for all the book-smarts out there! We have to get hubris out of science and have to hold those accountable whom deceive and misrepresent facts and findings. It is obvious, given the recent pandemic, that we have just as bad a problem as was suffered before--it has to stop!!! Thank You Kathy for this video, and your striving for accuracy and proper perspective; you are one of our KZbin-treasures--so keep it up! 73...

[@garyarnold3141]

Kathy, I studied a general science degree with quite a bit of physics in it. I've seen many lecturers in person and on TV / KZbin but you're the best. I went back through all your videos once I found you. I wish you had been my physics teacher :)

[@Ni999]

Great job as usual - you deserve far more subs. You're answering questions that people don't know they have.

[@mattwillis3219]

Awesome video Kathy! its so important to contextualize the origins of the technology we take for granted.

[@JeremyClay69]

Brilliant research and commentary, Kathy. Bravo!

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thank you.

[@oscar5]

Thank you! For helping to bring just a little bit of context to the out of control veneration of Tesla and his contributions. And for noting the work of folks such as Lamme

[@janecapon2337]

Such an enthusiastic communicator! I enjoy listening to every one of your talks. Thank you!

[@MrDeulis]

Kathy you are amazing!

[@TheMemesofDestruction]

Can confirm!

[@SciHeartJourney]

Thank you Kathy, you're awesome!

[@JulesSherev]

Wonderful video!! Thank you!

[@SkyhawkSteve]

Steinmetz invented phasor notation?! I need to send him a note of thanks. :-) As an electrical engineer, it sure saved a lot of work when compared to working with differential equations! There were so many geniuses that created the field of study that allowed me to make a living, and I appreciate your work to make sure that all of us appreciate their contributions!

[@supermikeb]

Do not miss her upcoming phasers video.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

@@supermikeb I do wonder how that will be handled. Phasors are very useful, but if you aren't actually working out the basic math and doing problems, I wonder if the audience will understand it or care. Or maybe it's enough to just compare the complexity of doing differential equations in the time domain versus the simplicity of phasor math in the frequency domain? I suspect most of the non-engineers will just be happy that they don't have to deal with the stuff. 🙂

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

I’m struggling with that as we speak. We will see how well it goes. Wish me luck

[@supermikeb]

@@Kathy_Loves_Physics Good luck Kathy!

[@matneu27]

I never had met an university, but as interested electrian and electronics hobbyist I always enjoy your videos straight out of the living room for my education 👍 You are fully right by telling us that not one person has invited a main part of our technical world alone. But some countries like to hear that the one and only inventor comes from their land. Your videos teach us that people around the world are always involved in a great invention.

[@WCM1945]

Thank you very much, Kathy! As a retired electronics technician (with teaching experience), I am enthralled by your work!

[@brucemccreary769]

Another gem! Thank you Kathy for this most enjoyable presentation, and the brilliant research behind it.

[@mskellyrlv]

This was great. Thank you, and keep up the wonderful work!

[@charlesewillmore5252]

Excellent video

[@cremsen1]

Wow. really well done, Kathy. I appreciate your dedication to detecting and discarding B.S.!

[@1seckelman]

FANTASTIC!! For history’s sake, I wish you would write a book correcting all of the historical inaccuracies perpetuated by modern day descriptions of well known historical figures.

[@supermikeb]

She will write more books. I think she's planning on 8 or so.

[@JohnBerry-q1h]

What fascinates about the history of the entire 1800s, Kathy, is that someone can simultaneously follow [4] different paths... • the path of Thermodynamics and Electricity discoveries; • the path of Mathematics discoveries (to include Gauss, Riemann, and Hamilton); • the path of Military exploits (probably featuring Napoleon); and • the path of what was going on with famous cowboys and the like in the American West. Often, historical documentaries will focus upon only ONE of these paths, while providing no perspective whatsoever as to what was going on with the other three. Someday, I would love to see a documentary that tries to reveal what was simultaneously going on with all [4] paths, simultaneously.

[@mrgcav]

Kathy Thank you for teaching the stuff they never taught us electrical engineers in college. Now I know how and why.

[@АлексейИлларионов-ш5о]

This is the best channel about experimental physics and history that I have ever seen. A lot of quality processed information and all this is presented in an excellent way and visually. I was not familiar enough with experimental physics (and even more so with history, I mean how + why questions ). I think, that "Why did someone do something" questions and the results + it's interpretations is crucial for understanding and physical education. Because without that things we actually acquire knowledge. For example, how can someone talkabout electronsif he don't know how to illustrate that electrons are in everything. This is a great place to fill in those gaps. Some time after watching the videos on this channel, I am convinced that studying physics should be about 50/50 in theoretical physics and experimental (+ history). In my opinion experimental physics (+ history) shows the driving "mechanism" of the development of science. That helps to better understand scientists, science, how it works. So science (at least physics) becomes even more interesting. Thank you

[@Darryl_Frost]

Very enjoyable, That was refreshing, thankyou. I subbed.

[@herodotomello]

Kathy, great to discover your channel. I am delighted with your content, approach and teaching. Greetings from Brazil.

[@rickrys2729]

Great to see this unique history of electricity and the effort made to get the true contributions of the people the inventions.

[@georgedone7997]

Kathy, the work you put in researching those subjects is mind boggling !

[@supermikeb]

It really is. I feel like she's really refining her technique of her research too plus gaining a much better understanding by integrating the history and science. I'm sure it is only going to get better from here on!

[@brianrookard]

Kathy, I can't echo enough your mention of Google Books for historical material. The Hathi Trust website is also excellent. I am an attorney (and former engineer) and I have found numerous old law and history books that, absent Google, I would never be able to access without *great* difficulty. Some go back to the last half of the 1600's. In many cases, it is entirely proper to still cite the old cases and treatises as authority, or, at least, to trace legal principles back in time. Simply invaluable. I, too, have a log of links to these historical materials ... and I use them!

[@josephstanton2480]

Absolutely fantastic, you're a star Kathy Joseph. Love your videos.

[@AT-27182]

I am always thrilled to hear and see you speak about these fascinating subjects. Thank you so much for your efforts and high quality work.

[@stefanjohansson1234]

You just made me stay up one hour after midnight right after coming home from my late shift at work... And i absolutely enjoyed every minute of it!

[@philiphorner31]

Thank you Kathy for correcting a lot of misinformation I've had for decades in my head.

[@johnopalko5223]

Regarding the Tesla, Edison, Westinghouse kerfuffle, never let it be said that people ever let facts interfere with a good story. BTW, I've been enjoying your videos for some time now and this was one of your best. Keep up the good work.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

The frustrating thing is that the story isn't even good, it is just simple.

[@SianaGearz]

Aren't the facts a better story? A tapetry of smaller insights and inventions propelled by sharing of knowledge that make up everything we use today. And there's plenty of real drama in there as well.

[@johnfarias7230]

Thank you for your beautiful knowledge the world needs more people like you

[@pmiecz]

This is how courses should be taught at school, so much good and interesting info!

[@tomjerry1170]

I Love the way you tell physics stories. God bless you

[@jimjimx5418]

You did such an AMAZING job on this research and education... Thank You ! You could probably have a book made, based on this video

[@KeritechElectronics]

Thanks for the video - I love your channel so much! Rectifying (full bridge or not) the myths and misinformation IS hard work, and my hat's off to you for doing all that.

[@tomschmidt381]

Great history lesson and giving credit to those how deserve the credit.

[@deezynar]

Thank you. Another well researched and documented video on a subject that is typically presented inaccurately.

[@anonymous.youtuber]

Thanks for setting the record straight !

[@robertfries6845]

Absolutely fascinating! I learned so much - and I am a retired physics professor!

[@2ezee2011]

That was so "illuminating" (rim shot). thank you for bringing a lot of knowledge about the invention and distribution of electricity by these BRILLIANT folks.

[@kevinrickey3925]

By watching you I realize.. My life is too short. There is so much to learn, so little time. Thank You again for an excellent video.

[@GlenSify]

Your videos are just so great. They deserve so many more views. Keep going.

[@abhishekmondal5551]

Yes Miss your vedio is a good guide to understand electricity and transformer -- this helps me lot complete my highschool project Thanks from INDIA

[@YoutubeBorkedMyOldHandle_why]

Thank you Kathy. As a kid, one of the first books I read (without pictures), was a biography of George Westinghouse. I've been a big fan of his ever since.

[@suryahitam3588]

As always, a fascinating presentation on the history of electricity. Thank-you.

[@kthwkr]

What a nice history. Science makes so much more sense when you know the history and understand where it came from.

[@patrickzulke1285]

Hi Kathy, I just wanted to tell you how much you "electrify" me with your passionate videos about physics and its history. I am glad you have found your 'joie de vivre", it is inspiring. Please keep de videos coming. (And, by the way, ... all the handwaving adds meaning in a positive way)

[@Telcom100]

AT 2:55, It's a good thing they had motion picture cameras to record Faraday's historic demonstration.

[@robertbatista50]

😂

[@TomFarrell-p9z]

Too bad it was in black and white in those days! 🙂

[@johngoard8272]

Yes Kathy I was born in 1946 and and at 8 years old remember playing cards with my best friend at his Granny's place by gaslight. We have come a long way eh?

[@ClintWKennedy]

I loved this Kathy! Thank you for putting all this research in place!

[@DamonJohnCollins]

Your enthusiasm in the delivery of information drives me to want to learn more. I adore the subjects of your videos. Thank you!

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Back in the 1970's my highschool Physics text book was called ""Physics is Fun". Thanks tol Kathy it still is 😊

[@dcorgard]

I am very glad you are doing this. History of Science should be a required section of classes, or a class upon itself, for those going into it. It gives a wonderful description of how these things are actually accomplished - on the shoulders of many, be they giants or dwarfs. It is so very important, that I hope you or others go into the other areas of science to do the same thing.

[@VincentGroenewold]

Thanks so much for putting all I've ever learned in school, into a much better context! It makes all the difference and I wish we did a bit more of that when learning about it, it would spark my enjoyment a lot compared to just learning an equation.

[@martinlintzgy1361]

Brilliant research, Kathy. Enjoyed very much.

[@ronanzann4851]

I absolutely loved the way you said, "loose his mind", in reference to Edison ! And by the way, your presentation is superb !!!

[@mahakleung6992]

Kathy, I listened to about 2/3's of your presentation; as I was cooking so could not watch. Of course, I knew what at transformer is and how it works, but the not all the history behind it. During May and June, I designed and built my first high end PC. I am retired senior manager/software engineer of 40 years. It was something I wanted very much to do my own design and build before age made it impossible (steady hands and eye sight). While building, I could not help be struck how electricity is truly the life blood of modern civilization. Doing some final tuning (adaptive undervolting to bring down CPU package heat level; just a mere 60 milli-volts). What I like best about your presentation. Too often whether history of nations or history of science, the arrow of time is so dominant. The student fails to realize just how haphazard and non-linear events truly were. They seem almost purpose driven, but you capture the chaos of creation very well. Thank you.

[@FrancescoBalena]

Dear Miss Kathy , your efford to find actual documentations and historical true is very emotional for me. EMOTIONAL is your efford but RATIONAL are your sentenze. Sorry for my badante english, i ❤ love you

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thank you Francesco.

[@der.Schtefan]

Your videos are the gold standard in AC videos.

[@melmcintyre3211]

Excellent as always, Katy , I love your work.Keep it up ,you are certainly not crazy ,just a beautiful, bubbly intellectual person ❤️