Illustration of Thermoelectric effect

1821,1834 Thermoelectric effect

The book of science

Tom Sharp

Thomas Johann Seebeck, Hans Christian Ørsted electromagnetism Illustration of Thermoelectric effect

Thermoelectric effect

Thomas Johann Seebeck discovered in an electric circuit with a junction of two metals that heating or cooling one side of the junction resulted in an electric current that deflected the arrow of a compass. Seebeck thought he had discovered a thermomagnetic effect, but Hans Christian Ørsted observed that the magnetic deflection was a result of the generated current, and coined the term thermoelectricity.

Thermocouple and thermopile

Put a temperature difference across it— you generate a voltage to measure the temperature, which is called a thermocouple, or to generate electricity, which is called a thermopile.

Not by accident

It couldn’t have been an accident, a circuit tossed together from parts remaining from other experiments. I have friends who have said nothing is accidental. Unknowable past lives explain this one. Sometimes things click when everything makes sense and explanations fall into place.