Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. These slides discuss about the childhood, education, hardships, achievements and inventions of Nikola Tesla. The slide is inspired by the outstanding work of Tesla and a book : Sean Patrick, Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented the 20th Century(March 18, 2013)

1. Nikola Tesla
The Man Behind 20th Century

2. Beginning
• 1856: born in modern-day Croatia
• He could memorize entire books and store
logarithmic tables in his brain.
• At the age of 19, he was studying electrical
engineering at the Polytechnic Institute at Graz in
Austria
• He found himself in an ongoing debate with a
professor over perceived design flaws in the direct-
current (DC) motors
• A year later he quitted ,but his imagination never quit

3. Design of AC motors
• He would spend the next six years of his life
“thinking” about electromagnetic fields and a
hypothetical motor powered by alternate-current
that would and should work.
• 1882: two year after Edison patented a supply for
electricity distribution using DC generators.
• Two miles radius distribution
• He was admiring the prismatic rays of the Hungarian
streets when a vision struck him
• He saw complete workings of a motor, grabbed a
stick and diagrammed on sand

4. • After the park revelation, he relocated to Paris to work for the
Continental Edison Company
• He was passionate in designing improvements over Edison design
• His work was noticed , and his ideas were implemented in Paris
• A year later, in Strasburg France , where he built the first prototype
of his radical design
• But business man could not understand his device and refuse to
invest
• So he concluded to meet Thomas Edison, himself

5. Met Edison
• In June 1884, Tesla sailed for New York City and arrived with four
cents in his pocket and a letter of recommendation from Charles
Batchelor—a former employer—to Thomas Edison, which was
purported to say, “My Dear Edison: I know two great men and you
are one of them. The other is this young man!”
• However, when tesla explained AC, Edison dismissed it as fanciful
and unnecessary
• Despite that, Edison liked Tesla and he hired him for simple jobs
such as repairing lightening systems.
• Within months he was most valuable engineer and was solving
some of the difficult problem. Edison referred him ‘damn good
man’

6. Humiliated and resigned
• 1885:According to Tesla, Edison offered him $50,000 if he could
improve upon the DC generation plants Edison favored(as Tesla
Claimed)
• Vast improvement over Edison's (efficient, durable and more
profitable) ,but Edison refused to pay by saying, ”Tesla, you don’t
understand our American humor”
• Tesla resigned
• Ditch digger ($2 per week), but continued to expand his design on
generators, motors, transformers
• But lacked money to build prototypes

7. Tesla Electric Company
• Later sensing opportunity, wealthy investors
approached Tesla
• Tesla agreed when they were willing to finance the
Tesla Electric Company
• He developed arc lamp of beautiful design and
efficiency
• Investors take huge amount of profits
• When Tesla talked about AC, not only they rejected
his idea but also dejected him from the company
• Tesla was broken again

8. 7 patents (AC)
• 1887: Alfred Brown(director of Western Union) and Charles Peck
(an attorney) were impressed on theories and design of AC and
agreed to invest, set up lab
• “The motors I built there,” Tesla said, “were exactly as I imagined
them. I made no attempt to improve the design, but merely
reproduced the pictures as they appeared to my vision, and the
operation was always as I expected.”
• 1887: Tesla issued for seven U.S. patents for his inventions.
Generators, Transformers, Transmission lines, motors and lighting
______________________(50/50)________________________

9. Source:Pinterest

10. • With added investment from Westinghouse, he oversaw the
building and installation of AC system across the country
• Started research on ‘radiant energy’.
• His studies led him to develop x-rays, and how to use radiographs
• But he did not make it well known, hence the credit went to
Rontgen(German physicist)
• It is said, he was never after recognition, he was only after
discovery and creation
• He was happy to inspire Rontgen.1885 and 1895
X-rays and radiographs

11. Source:Pinterest

12. Edison – Tesla battle
• Edison and J.P Morgan(wealthy man) assault against AC
• Edison declared publicly that AC delivered to home
would kill a customer within 6 months.
• Limit AC to 800 volts were done as a matter of public
safety which conveniently make long distance AC
distribution impossible
• Edison electrocuted street animals, directed to execute
cats and horse
• 1890: Ex murderer was tried to be killed using westing
house generator, but criminal was badly injured
• Edison and Morgan continued to speak against AC
through media and power

13. • Tesla began performing regular exhibitions to disprove Edison
claims
• He lighted lamp by allowing AC to follow through him
• Enthused by his discoveries with x-rays, he devoted his
energies to the realm of high frequency electricity
• He knew lights could be brighter, energy could be transmitted
more efficiently
• Tesla coil: Tesla use this coil to invent high efficiency, high
frequency fluorescent lamp.
• 1891: He discovered energy(electromagnetic waves) could be
transmitted through air by wirelessly lighting lamps.

14. Radio waves and transmitter
• He envisioned a network of transmission
stations that would provide free , wireless
energy to the whole world
• His coils help him to discover radio waves, that
would change the world.
• When two coil were to resonate at same
frequency they send and receive signals.
• First radio transmitter, patent within 2 years
• He researched and continued that world will
discover a veritable source of inexhaustible,
free energy.

16. U.S adopt AC
• 1893: first neon light were invented. In Chicago world’s
fair Tesla used fluorescent bulbs and bend the glass
tubes thus spelling famous scientist names
• 1893, May 1: President Grover Cleveland pushed a
button , over 100000 lamps(AC generators) turned
night to day
• AC was now the future of electricity, and Edison had
lost his bid.
• The dream project of Tesla Niagra power plant was
completed and all the expensive machines worked
successfully as they did tesla’s mind
• 18 November 16, first power reached to Buffalo 22 miles
away
• Tesla was referred ‘ Wizard of the West’

17. Tesla chose, not to be first billionaire
• JP Morgan realized that AC had defeated Edison work. He didn’t
care what kind of electricity was used in world , as long as he
controlled it
• He retaliated strategy, spread rumors and stock manipulation and
by the end of 1897, Westinghouse was nearly bankrupt
• Fearing ruin, Westinghouse begged Tesla for relief from the
royalties Westinghouse agreed to. “Your decision determines the
fate of the Westinghouse Company,” he said. Tesla, grateful to the
man who had never tried to swindle him, tore up the royalty
contract, walking away from millions in royalties that he was
already owed and billions that would have accrued in the future. He
would have been one of the wealthiest men in the world(also the
first billionaire)—a titan of the Gilded Age.

18. Spark plug and high frequency studies
• He formulated principles that led to the
discovery of cosmic rays, and invented an
‘electric igniter’ or spark plug [thermal
combustion engine]
• 1898: He announced a way to remotely control
machine with radio technology, and
successfully demonstrated by driving a small
metal boat through indoor pond
• In his Manhattan lab, his imagination led him to
research the resonant frequencies of the earth.
He mistakenly caused an small earthquake that
engulfed surrounding city blocks, breaking
windows and shattering wall plaster.

19. Free fast energy and light studies
• He suspected that thinner and conductive air at upper
atmosphere could be used to transmit electrical power at
greater distances
• His friends invested money for his research in Colorado
Springs and he began building new experimental station
• While his lab was under construction, he studied
phenomenon of light and found that earth was literally alive
with electrical vibrations, the most important discovery till
this date
• The tower construction was completed, inside tower there
was world largest tesla coil, which was used to send
powerful surges into the earth.

20. Source: sciencephoto

21. • In further tests, he create electrical effects on the scale of lightening
• The world largest manmade lightening bolts from his tower blew out
the generator of local power company.
• Which proved power to any point on surface of the planet can be
delivered. And for 9 months experiment were conducted
• Wirelessly lit 200 lamps from a distance of over 25 miles,(by air)
• 1890: left Colorado springs and in New York city wrote article for
century magazine:
tapping sun’s energy
controlling weather with electricity
ending war
wirelessly transmit power and radio signals around globe
Engage in interplanetary communications
Building robotic automations
Tesla insane inventions and claims

22. Tesla and Morgan
• The article caught attention of JP Morgan, and he offered to
fund the construction of the power plant and transmission
• He choose to partner with Morgan that would prove to be
biggest mistake of his life
• Morgan initially offered $150000 out of $1 million with 51%
ownership in existing and future patents and invention of
Tesla.
• 1901, December: the project begun on 200 acres land of Long
island Sound
• 16 iron rods would be driver over 300 feet into the
earth(foundation) of 187 foot tower capped by 55 ton steel
sphere
“it is necessary for the machine to get a grip of the earth,
otherwise it cannot shake the earth” He said.

23. Source:Pinterest,weebly

24. Wardenclyffe Tower
• 1903: The work was slow and expensive and nearly completed .
• As testing began, residents in the area reported seeing “all sorts of
lighting”
• “As soon as it is completed, it will be possible for a businessman in
New York to dictate instructions and have them instantly appear in
type at his office in London or anywhere” Tesla explained in an
interview.
• An expensive instrument not bigger than watch will enable its
bearer to hear any where, on sea or land, music or song, speech of
political leaders, delivered in some other place at distant.
• Most important of this all of this, however will be transmission of
power, without wires

25. Free energy, failure
• In an attempt to convince the powerful Morgan to invest large sum
,Tesla explained that other than transmitting radio signals-
it could be used to saturate the entire globe with electricity
harmless to living things so that everyone could obtain usable
power by simply sticking wires in the soil
• Morgan coldly replied “If anyone can draw on a power, where do
we put the meter”? And refused further investment.
• He had no enough money, neither other potential investor consider
his idea and hence his Wardenclyffe dream began to fade.

26. Tesla Vs …
• 1904: U.S patent office stripped Tesla of his radio patents and
awarded them to the Italian inventor, Guglielmo Marconi.
Marconi had used radio technology pioneered by Tesla 11 years
earlier to transmit letter ‘s’ over 2000 miles
• Marconi had the financial backing of Morgan, Edison and Andrew
Carnegie, all of whom held sway in every level of government.
• 1905: Tesla ran out off money and forced to shut down the
Wardenclyffe .
• 1906: Tesla refocused his effort and presented 200 horsepower
blade less turbine engine to the world, on the occasion of his 50th
birthday

27. Flying machine , refused novel prize
• 1911: Marconi was awarded Noble prize in 1911 and hailed as “the father
of radio”
• 1911 October 15: New York Herald ran a story where Tesla proclaimed
that he was working on flying machine that
will have neither wings or propellers
move through air in any direction with perfect safety
higher speed than have yet reached
it will remain absolutely still in air, and even in wind for great length of
time
But the project never begun
• 1915: Tesla sued Marconi for infringement on his patents, but didn’t have
the money to take on the flush Marconi.
• In same year Tesla and Edison were potential laureates to share Noble
Prize but both refused

28. Bankruptcy, World war , his imagination
• 1916: Tesla was forced to declare bankruptcy
• 1917: World war 1, was going on. U.S was looking for the way to
detect German U boats and put Edison on charge to find it
• It was Tesla who proposed the use of radio waves to detect the
ships
• Edison rejected the idea as ludicrous and nobody listened or
anticipated Tesla
• The world has to wait 20 more years when Emile Girardeau develop
and obstacle locating radio device “conceived according to the
principles stated by Tesla” as he put it.

29. His last patent
• 1920s : Tesla was mentally disturbed, and
regularly found himself at odds with his
employers due to his plans and designs
• 1928: Tesla received his last patent
“Apparatus For Aerial Transportation”
Hybrid of helicopter and plane
ascend vertically and rotates its engine like
plane to fly
• It was predecessor of VSTOL(Very short
Takeoff and Landing)[used now]
• But Tesla lacked funds to build the prototype

30. Electric car
• 1931: Einstein praised him as “an eminent pioneer
in the realm of high frequency currents.”
• 1932: Pierce Arrow automobile and George
Westinghouse commissioned Tesla to build
electric motor to power car
• He built 40 inches long , 30 inches across , 80
horsepower producing engine with 12 volt
storage battery and 2 thick wires to a small black
box that he had built the week before.
• The mysterious device was used to test car for
80 days, reached speed of 90 mph

31. Black box
• But Tesla denied anybody to inspect the box and said that it taps
into a “mysterious radiation which comes out of ether”
• The people responded superstitiously with charges of “black
magic”
• Affronted he took his black box with him to New York City and
spoke nothing further about it.

33. Death Beam
• New York Times — July 11, 1934 p. 18, c. 1
• Described a new “tele force” invention that would send
“concentrated beams of particles through the free air, of such
tremendous energy that they will bring down a fleet of 10000
enemy airplanes at a distance of 250 miles…”
• Tesla claimed that war would be unfeasible when every country will
have his “invisible Chinese Wall”
• The announcement generated many controversies and he was
widely criticized as a “mad scientist”
• No one around him were interested in him or in investing in his idea

34. • Neville Chamberlain , the then prime minister of England was said
to be interested in Death Beam, but this prospect evaporated
when Chamberlain resigned of his position
• Frustrated by the lack of interest in his “super Weapon to end all
war”, Tesla sent detailed schematics to a number of allied nations,
including U.S, Canada, England, France and Soviet Union.
• No one were willing in investment, but 2 years later one stage of
plan was tested by the USSR
• They sent check for $25000 , gave little details of their experiment
and, communicated nothing further

35. Dynamic theory of gravity
• 1937: He stated to press that he had completed a “dynamic theory
of gravity”
• He said he would soon give it to world but was never published
• Criticized Einstein’s theory of relativity calling it a “magnificent
mathematical garb which fascinates, dazzles and makes people
blind to the underlying errors.”

36. Source:
quantumartandpoetry
https://youtu.be/sNrquwHVUPQ

37. 800 patents, penniless death
• 1943 January 5, Tesla placed small “ do not disturb”
sign on door
• Two days later, his maid found him dead
• Despite receiving over 800 patents, quite literally inventing
20th century , he died penniless and alone
• Medical examination determined blood cot in his heart
responsible for his death.
• When his cousin visited his room next day, all the papers and
notebooks were missing, including a treasured black notebook
that contained hundreds of pages of technical research notes.
• 2 days later, U.S office of Alien Property seized all his property
and his papers were declared top secret .

38. Father of radio
• One year later, nearly 3 decades after Tesla began the fight, The U.S
Supreme Court confirmed that Marconi’s radio patents indeed
infringed on Tesla’s
• Tesla was declared as true “father of radio”

39. References
• Sean Patrick, Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented
the 20th Century(March 18, 2013)
• https://www.nytimes.com/1934/07/11/archives/tesla-at-78-bares-
new-deathbeam-invention-powerful-enough-to.html
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-rise-and-fall-of-
nikola-tesla-and-his-tower-11074324/
• Teslauniverse, teslaresearch,
• wikipedia