Divya: No, I haven't. What is it?
Rajeev: Well, it was a historical rivalry between two famous inventors, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, over the choice of the electrical system that would be used to power the United States in the late 19th century.
Divya: Oh, that sounds interesting. What were the two competing systems?
Rajeev: There were two main competing systems for transmitting electrical power: direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). Edison was a strong proponent of DC, which he had developed and used to power his electric light system, while Tesla believed that AC was the superior technology due to its ability to transmit power over longer distances with less energy loss.
Divya: Wow, so who won the War of Currents?
Rajeev: In the end, the War of Currents was won by Tesla and AC technology, which remains the primary method for transmitting electrical power worldwide. However, both Tesla and Edison made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering, and their rivalry serves as an important chapter in the history of technology.
Divya: That's really fascinating. What did Edison do to try and discredit AC?
Rajeev: Edison, who was a savvy businessman, launched a campaign to discredit AC, claiming that it was dangerous and could not be used safely. He even went as far as to publicly electrocute animals using AC in an effort to prove its danger. However, his campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.
Divya: That's really sad to hear. But it's great that Tesla's contributions to the development of AC technology are still widely recognized today.
Rajeev: Yes, absolutely. Tesla was instrumental in the development of AC technology and his inventions, such as the AC motor and transformer, revolutionized the way electricity was generated and distributed.
Divya: Thanks for sharing this interesting piece of history, Rajeev. I'm definitely going to look into it more.
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