Can You Pass This National Electricity Day Quiz?

National Electricity Day is recognized on June 15th each year, commemorating the date in 1752 when Benjamin Franklin conducted his kite experiment in a lightning storm.¹ Take this six-question quiz to see how much you know about the history of electricity and the equipment that keeps today’s electrical workers safe.

Q: Who conducted the first recorded electrical experiment?

The ancient Greeks (Thales), the British (William Gilbert), the Italians (Luigi Galvani) or the Americans (Benjamin Franklin)?

A: While all of these figures played an important role in electricity-related discoveries, the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus discovered that amber, when rubbed with silk, attracted feathers and other light objects. This phenomenon, first recognized in 600 BC, is what we know now as static electricity. In fact, the Greek word for amber is “ëelectron.”^2,3

Q: When did the lineworker profession begin in the U.S.?

1844, 1864, 1884 or 1904?

The occupation began in 1844 when the first telegraph wires were installed on wooden poles between Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. As electrification progressed in the 1890s, the job became increasingly dangerous and groups formed to advocate for worker safety. As a part of the New Deal in the 1930’s, there was a significant push to bring electrification to rural America, and the number of jobs in electric power greatly expanded.⁴

Q:  What major U.S. city was powered by the first direct current (DC) generator and central power station?

…Washington, DC, New York, NY, Boston, MA or Philadelphia, PA?

A:  In 1882, Thomas Edison’s direct current (DC) electric generator was installed at a central power station and provided electricity to New York City. The station had a system of conductors to distribute electricity to end-users.⁵ 

Q:  Who invented alternating current (AC) generation and motors used today?

Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Nikola Tesla or Franklin D. Roosevelt?

A:  In the 1880’s, Nikola Tesla developed an alternating current (AC) motor and system of AC power generation. Thomas Edison believed this to be a threat to his DC supply, so he spread stories that it wasn't safe to use. However, after Tesla's system was used to power 100,000 electric lights at Chicago's World Fair in 1893, AC became the established power supply in the U.S.⁶

Q: When were the first hot sticks built and sold?

1899, 1905, 1913 or 1926?

A:  Precursors to today’s hot line maintenance tools in the electrical power industry made their appearance starting in 1913. The tools were manufactured in Wapakoneta, OH and were initially crude and bulky; however, they sparked the development of our present-day hot sticks, fiberglass rods that do not conduct electricity and are long enough to keep linemen at a safe 6- to 10-foot distance from energized equipment. Honeywell Salisbury has a long history of providing a variety of high-quality hot sticks and other tools.^7,8

Q: When did lineman start using rubber protective equipment?

the 1920’s, 1930’s, 1940’s or 1950’s?

A: Salisbury pioneered the manufacturing of linemen's rubber protective equipment in the 1920’s. Salisbury was approached by a local utility in the Chicago area about how to create a safer environment for linemen working on energized lines. Salisbury worked with the utility by taking garden hoses and cutting them lengthwise to cover the lines. These hoses were then secured by electrical tape, which led to the Salisbury-patented line hose in 1924. Over the years, the line hose has evolved into the now-familiar Honeywell Salisbury SALCOR® orange rubber product seen around the world.

To learn more about electrical safety gear and how Honeywell Salisbury keeps electrical workers safe, visit our website.

Sources

1 - www.thenews-messenger.com

2, 3 - www.ferrovial.com/en/stem/static-electricity

4 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineworker

 5 - www.powermag.com/history-of-power-the-evolution-of-the-electric-generation-industry

6 - www.twinkl.com/teaching-wiki

7, 8 - https://members.tripod.com