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-Faraday also established that magnetism could affect rays of light and that
there was an underlying relationship between the two phenomena.
*He similarly discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and
diamagnetism, and the laws of electrolysis.
-His inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices formed the foundation of
electric motor technology, and it was largely due to his efforts that electricity
became practical for use in technology.
*The first homopolar generator was developed by Michael Faraday during his
experiments in 1831. It is frequently called the Faraday disc or Faraday wheel
in his honor. It was the beginning of modern dynamos that is, electrical
generators which operate using a magnetic field. It was very inefficient and
was not used as a practical power source, but it showed the possibility of
generating electric power using magnetism, and led the way for commutated
direct current dynamos and then alternating current alternators.
The Faraday disc was primarily inefficient due to counterflows of current.
While current flow was induced directly underneath the magnet, the current
would circulate backwards in regions outside the influence of the magnetic
field. This counterflow limits the power output to the pickup wires, and
induces waste heating of the copper disc. Later homopolar generators would
solve this problem by using an array of magnets arranged around the disc
perimeter to maintain a steady field around the circumference, and eliminate
areas where counterflow could occur.