Inspire Learning – Gift a Tesla Banknote as a Symbol of Wisdom

Schools and study courses are soon about to resume, and exploring the world through physics, chemistry and other subjects is about to become topical once again.

Serbia has released a 100 dinar banknote, depicting Nikola Tesla and Tesla’s formula T = Wb / m2. Give this banknote to students and keep it with you, so that the spirit of Tesla’s wisdom would never fade and would help you with learning! The price of a banknote is only 3.49 €, the quality – uncirculated.

Why is Nikola Tesla associated with the symbol of wisdom and depicted on 100 a Serbian dinar banknote? Let us find more by looking at the life and scientific contribution of Tesla, shall we? A truly remarkable person is what Tesla could be described as in one sentence – a genius who enlightened the world. Tesla had become interested in physics since childhood when he had been struck by an electric charge from his cat. He obtained fame thanks to his contributions to science, engineering and machinery.

Tesla discovered the alternating current and rotating magnetic field; however, Nikola Tesla died in poverty and without having received the recognition he deserved in his lifetime.

What were Tesla’s most significant discoveries?

• Alternating current is one of the most important discoveries.
• The founder of the radio waves technology  – the father of the radio.
• Tesla invented remote control – a radio-controlled remote control for a boat.
• Tesla’s electric motor – this invention was essential not only for cars, but also for many other devices that are implicit in modern times; For example, household appliances, water pumps, power tools, watches, compressors, etc.
• Fundamentals in robotics – Tesla founded the concept of robot, he believed all living things are driven solely by external impulses. Tesla visualised cars, robotic satellites, sensors and autonomous systems.
• Tesla laser vision – this technology was used in medicine and later contributed greatly to the development of the digital media we know currently.
• X-rays – Tesla played a key role in the development of this area.
• Tesla took the first ever X-ray.
• Tesla’s coil – an impressive machine, a resonant transformer that converts energy into high-frequency voltage.

Although it is highly questioned, the exact number of patents filed by Tesla remains unknown. Allegedly he has made about 300 inventions, many of which are related to one another; As well as, during his career, countless non-patented ideas were developed.

Early years and a dream about America

Tesla was born in 1856 in Smiljan (modern Croatian territory) in the family of a Serbian pastor. According to him, his great memory and creativity he inherited from his mother. Tesla’s interest in science allowed him to resist his father’s intentions to join the clergy. After studies, Tesla moved to Budapest, where he had the idea of an induction motor. After unsuccessful attempts to gain support, Tesla decided to head to America.

In 1884 Tesla emigrated to the US with only a few cents and a recommendation letter for Thomas Edison in his pocket. Edison, upon meeting Tesla, promised an impressive amount of money if Tesla would fix his ineffective and inefficient engines and current generators. Tesla provided him with improved design and asked for his remuneration but instead of paying Edison turned and said “It appears Tesla, you are not familiar with the American humour” and offered him 10 dollars per week’s worth of work instead.

A year later Tesla left Edison and managed to establish private funding for his freshly instated Tesla Electric Light Company with the agreement he would be developing electric arc based lighting systems.

The Tesla Electric Company was created after experiencing an increasing investor’ interest in the alternating current in 1887. Tesla was successful in applying for and establishing several alternating current patents.

As one door closes, another opens

Tesla’s work attracted the attention of George Westinghouse, who was in search for a remote energy supply method. Westinghouse made sure that Tesla’s alternating current system could be ideal to compete with former ally Edison. Westinghouse bought 40 Tesla patents for $ 60,000 (about 1.5 million today).

Soon enough Edison’s company began losing power and it was clear that direct current was on its way out to be replaced by the alternating current. Edison attempted to start an anti-campaign directed towards alternating current but it did not succeed.

Tesla developed one of the first alternating current hydroelectric stations in the Niagara Falls. He continued with his work as if a new electric transition system alone wasn’t enough he also created the dynamo and the induction engine. He also contributed to the development of radar, X ray technology, remote control and rotary magnetic field area. As if Tesla were a genius.

He who climbs high falls low

As time went by, he became obsessed with wireless energy transmission. He tried to create a global wireless communication system. With the funding of J.P. Morgan’s a large tower was built (Wardenclyffe Tower) for the purpose to exchange information and broadcast free electricity to the world. Unfortunately, this tower was never completed due to insufficient funds and investors’ doubting the functionality of the project. Tesla had repeatedly tried to convince investors but, unfortunately, was forced to file bankruptcy in 1917 and so the tower was closed.

This failure was one of the causes of Tesla’s mental breakdown, as wireless transmission was one of Tesla’s most important goals in life. He believed and talked about things that had not been introduced during his lifetime, such as the Internet.

Nikola Tesla was good at science, but bad at business. Taking into consideration everything that has been said about Tesla his business skills were disastrous; he was either incapable of resistant to visualise the financial worth of his creations.  He devoted himself to the future and development of humanity instead of earning money.

When Tesla opened his laboratory he unleashed his genius and experimented with the X ray technology, electric resonance, electric arc lamps among many other inventions.

The legacy of Nikola Tesla

Unfortunately, Tesla experienced a nervous breakdown and eventually returned to work as a consultant for engineers. Over time, Tesla’s ideas became increasingly uncertain and impractical and he began to be pushed out of society. Tesla died in 1943 in loneliness and poverty. It is unfortunate that such a great scientist with such grand heritage and investment in science met such a sad fate. He was cremated and his ash is stored in the Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Serbia. The magnetic field induction unit – T (tesla), is named after Tesla.

Serbia has released a 100 dinar banknote depicting Nikola Tesla and Tesla’s formula T = Wb / m2. Keep this banknote devoted to symbol of wisdom in your purse and give it to students so that the spirit of Tesla would not disappear and help them in learning!