THE OERSTED AND FARADAY EXPERIMENT - SCIENCE - 2026

The experiment that Oersted and Faraday conducted two centuries ago led to discoveries that drove the scientific and technological advances that are known today.

The first of them was Oersted, who although those were not his intentions, discovered that there was a relationship between electricity and magnetism, something that until then was unthinkable. From this discovery, Faraday became interested in the study of this phenomenon and dedicated himself to carrying out innumerable experiments, obtaining great advances.

Faraday

This scientific knowledge motivated all kinds of research that laid the foundations for the manufacture of many of the electrical appliances and devices that exist today.

The discovery of electromagnetism unleashed a series of advances in various scientific fields (Physics and Mathematics), and at a technological level (medicine, entertainment, communications, among others).

Without the contributions that Oersted and Faraday made through their experiments, the world as it is known today would not exist.

Electricity and magnetism

Before the experiments carried out by the scientists Hans Christian Oersted and Michael Faraday, there was a total lack of knowledge that there was any relationship between electricity and magnetism.

In fact, those who were dedicated to the study of these did so separately, without looking for any connection. They only dedicated themselves to studying the behavior of electricity and magnetism in isolation, considering them as alien to each other.

The experiments were based on a constant search for knowledge of the laws under which electricity worked, as well as magnetism.

A law in electricity, for example, has to do with the behavior of the elements that compose it, such as atoms, or with how charges are distributed.

After many studies, which had to be repeated over and over again to verify the theories and leave no room for doubt or error, laws of operation could be established.

Scientific knowledge for the development of science was obtained through the constant work of scientists who sought to find the explanation for various phenomena.

The Oersted experiment

Hans Christian Oersted was a professor at the University of Copenhagen and a scientist born in Denmark, who one day in the middle of one of his usual experiments made a great find.

This scientist thought that there could be a relationship between electricity and magnetism since each of them had similar laws. However, he had been trying to establish a correspondence between the two for some time until one day he accidentally discovered electromagnetism.

The experiment that Oersted was conducting at that time consisted of placing a compass, which served as a magnetic object, next to a conductive wire.

The conductive material was a wire connected to a battery and Oersted placed them next to each other in order to observe some variation, but until that moment he had not obtained results.

In the middle of one of them, he changed the position of the thread while keeping it disconnected from the stack, placing it right in front of the compass needle.

He then proceeded to connect the thread to the source of electricity (the battery) and at that moment, with remarkable amazement, he was able to observe how the compass needle immediately moved.

This was a historical and determining moment for science because it had discovered Electromagnetism. In other words, Oersted, through his experiment, discovered that there is a close and important relationship between electricity and magnetism.

Electricity, together with the magnetism produced by magnets, forms an electromagnetic field. That is, electricity exerts an influence on magnetic objects.

Faraday's experiment

Michael Faraday was different from Oersted in many ways, mainly because he was not a scientist with a formal education.

Faraday's beginnings as a scientist came in the midst of his work in a laboratory as an assistant, with no prior knowledge to prepare him for his later contributions to science.

The strengths of this scientist were experience and curiosity as well as his desire to learn. His training was obtained through the experience that work in the laboratory gave him.

Hans Christian Oersted and Michael Faraday did not get to work together even though they had the same scientific interests, based on the relationship between magnetism and electricity.

However, Faraday was inspired by Oersted's discovery regarding the ability of electricity to generate electromagnetic fields.

He was not satisfied with what had already been discovered, on the contrary, he dedicated himself to conducting various experiments without interruption to study this phenomenon.

He was a scientist dedicated to science completely and never hid his discoveries, instead, on each of them he left specific notes.

Your contributions

Faraday's contributions to science are many, among them it is worth mentioning that he discovered the two laws of electrolysis and was the first person to build a first electric generator.

The electric generator is one of Faraday's most relevant contributions and is considered one of the most brilliant scientists.

In addition to his excellent career, he served as an inspiration to others, who based on Faraday's work made discoveries and inventions such as the telegraph.

How have the Oersted and Faraday experiments contributed to scientific and technological advances?

At present, the passing of days would be unbearable if certain items were to be missing that, given their usefulness, have become essential for the vast majority of people.

Among them we can mention devices such as: Mobile phones, microwave ovens, digital cameras, magnetic resonance equipment, among others.

There are many advances that have been experienced since the relationship between electricity and magnetism was discovered, but this was a key piece for the technological advances that make life easier for humanity.

References

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3. Kryder, M. (1984). Magnetic information technology. Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh. Recovered at: physicstoday.scitation.org
4. Light and Magnetism. (1,855). Science History Institute. Recovered at: science.sciencemag.org
5. Pérez, M. Varela, P. (2.003) Origins of Electromagnetism. Oersted and Ampere. Nivola books and editions. Scientific collection for history, Madrid: Tres cantos.