Mechanical and Electrical Systems Overview

Study Notes

Mechanical and Electrical Systems (BU II) involves the study of building utility systems, focusing on electricity supply and mechanical equipment installation.
It's a crucial aspect of building design and technology.

600 BC: Amber was discovered to become electrically charged when rubbed.
1600 AD: William Gilbert described the electrification of various materials, becoming known as the "father of modern electricity."
1660 AD: Otto von Guericke invented a crude static electricity generating machine.
1729 AD: Stephen Gray differentiated between conductors and insulators. Charles DuFay identified two types of electricity: positive and negative.
1752 AD: Benjamin Franklin and Ebenezer Kinnersley named the two types of electricity "positive" and "negative."
1745 AD: Pieter van Musschenbroek invented the Leyden jar to store static electricity.
1747 AD: William Watson discharged a Leyden jar through a circuit, initiating research on current and circuits.
1827 AD: George Simon Ohm's law established the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance.

1841 AD: James Prescott Joule's law described electrical heating. Gustav Kirchhoff's rules are essential for circuit calculations
1819 AD: Han Christian Oersted discovered the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire.
1821 AD: André-Marie Ampère established electromagnetic laws and developed the electromagnet.
1831 AD: Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry invented the electric generator, contributing to power generation. Hippolyte Pixii created a hand-powered generator model.
1858 AD: The first steam-driven generator became operational.
1878 AD: Charles Brush installed the first arc lights, and Joseph Swan developed the carbon filament lamp.
1879 AD: Thomas Edison advocated for direct current (DC) and developed the first central electric power plant ("Pearl Street Plant") in 1882.
1888 AD: Charles Parsons introduced the steam turbine to generate alternating current (AC).
1893 AD: Nikola Tesla designed the first hydroelectric power station (Niagara Falls) that produced AC.
1900 AD: Coal was the primary fuel for electricity production during the late 19th century.
1950 AD: Natural gas and oil (from petroleum) became the leading clean-burning fuels for electricity generation. Nuclear power also began playing a role.