READING COMPREHENSION ;B;JJHEC7=D;J?ICE Alessandro Volta In 1800, the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta built Volta’s voltaic pile was the first battery that produced the voltaic pile and discovered the first practical a reliable, steady current of electricity. method of generating electricity. Count Volta also One contemporary of Alessandro Volta was Lui- made discoveries in electrostatics, meteorology and gi Galvani, in fact, it was Volta’s disagreement with pneumatics. His most famous invention, however, is Galvani’s theory of galvanic responses (animal tissue the first battery. contained a form of electricity) that led Volta to build Alessandro Volta was born in Como, Italy in 1745. the voltaic pile to prove that electricity did not come 4 In 1774, he was appointed professor of physics from the animal tissue but was generated by the elettrica La corrente at the Royal School in Como. While at the Royal contact of different metals, brass and iron, in a moist School , Alessandro Volta designed his first invention, environment. Ironically, both scientists were right. the electrophorus, in 1774: a device that produced Volt - The unit of electromotive force, or differ ence static electricity. For years at Como, he studied and of potential, which will cause a current of one am - experimented with atmospheric electricity by ignit- pere to flow through a resistance of one ohm. Nam- ing static sparks. In 1779, Alessandro Volta was ap- ed after Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, a pioneer pointed professor of physics at the University of Pa- in the study of electricity. via and it was while there that he invented his most famous invention, the voltaic pile. Photovoltaic - Photovoltaic are systems that con- Constructed of alternating discs of zinc and cop- vert light energy into electricity. The term “photo” is per, with pieces of cardboard soaked in brine be- a stem from the Greek “phos” meaning “light” and tween the metals, the voltaic pile produced electrical “volt” cones from Volta. current. The metallic conducting arc was used to car- (Taken from http://inventors.about.com/od/utstartinventors/a/ ry the electricity over a greater distance. Alessandro Alessandro_Volta.html) EXCERCISES 1 True or false? invented electricity term copper Greek brine a. The electrophorus was Volta’s first discs convert electricity devices Professor invention. T F distances light car from b. Volta was a professor in Pavia in 1774. T F 3 Match questions and answers. c. According to Galvani’s theory, electricity QUESTIONS ANSWERS is not intrinsic to animal tissue. T F d. Photovoltaics are systems that convert A How did 1 That electricity is intrinsic Volta build to animal tissue. light energy into electricity. T F his pile? 2 Complete. B With which 2 He alternated discs of a. Volta ........................ the famous pile while he point of zinc and copper, putting was ........................ in Pavia. Galvani’s between them pieces of b. Volta built his pile alternating ........................ theory cardboard soaked in brine. did Volta of zinc and ........................, with pieces of disagree? cardboard soaked in ......................... c. To conduct ........................ out of the pile and C What is a 3 It is the unit for electric over great ........................ he used a metallic volt? potential, electric potential difference, conducting ......................... and electromotive force. d. Photovoltaic are ........................ named after This unit is named after Alessandro Volta, they ........................ light Alessandro Volta. energy into ......................... e. The term “photo” comes from the A ......... B ......... C ......... ........................ “phos” meaning “........................”. And the ........................ “volt” comes ........................ Alessandro Volta..