Michael Faraday: A Detailed and Fascinating Life History 

Early Life and Background:

Michael Faraday was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington Butts, now part of South London. His family was poor; his father, James Faraday, was a blacksmith, and his mother, Margaret Hastwell, was a homemaker. Despite their financial struggles, Faraday's parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and a curiosity about the natural world.

Faraday received only a basic education, which ended when he was about 13 years old. He began working as an errand boy for a local bookbinder and bookseller, George Riebau. This job proved pivotal, as it allowed Faraday to read extensively. He was particularly fascinated by books on science, notably "The Improvement of the Mind" by Isaac Watts and "Conversations on Chemistry" by Jane Marcet. 

Micheal Faraday (1791-1867).

Entry into the Scientific World:

In 1812, at the age of 21, Faraday attended a series of lectures by the eminent chemist Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution. Faraday took meticulous notes and later sent them, along with a letter of application, to Davy, requesting a job. Impressed by Faraday's enthusiasm and diligence, Davy hired him as an assistant in 1813.

Faraday's initial duties included cleaning laboratory equipment and preparing experiments, but he soon began to assist Davy in more substantial ways. This period was formative, as Faraday honed his experimental skills and deepened his understanding of chemistry and physics.

Key Scientific Contributions:

1. Electromagnetic Induction

Faraday's most famous discovery is electromagnetic induction, which he made in 1831. This principle is the basis for the operation of transformers, inductors, and many types of electrical motors and generators.

• Experiment: Faraday discovered that a changing magnetic field induces an electric current in a conductor. He demonstrated this by wrapping two coils of wire around an iron ring and found that when he passed a current through one coil, a transient current was induced in the other coil.

• Faraday's Law of Induction: Faraday formulated that the induced electromotive force (EMF) in a circuit is directly proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic flux through the circuit. Mathematically, it is expressed as: E=−dΦB/dt​​

  where E is the induced EMF and ΦB​ is the magnetic flux.

2. Electrolysis

Faraday made significant contributions to electrochemistry. He formulated the laws of electrolysis, which describe the relationship between the amount of substance produced at each electrode and the quantity of electricity passed through the electrolyte.

• First Law of Electrolysis: The mass of a substance produced at an electrode during electrolysis is directly proportional to the amount of electric charge passed through the electrolyte. Mathematically:

  m=kQ

  where m is the mass, k is the electrochemical equivalent, and Q is the electric charge.

• Second Law of Electrolysis: The mass of substances produced by the same amount of electric charge is directly proportional to their equivalent weights.

3. Magnetism and Light

In 1845, Faraday discovered the magneto-optical effect, later known as the Faraday Effect. He demonstrated that a magnetic field can rotate the plane of polarization of light passing through a transparent material. This was one of the first pieces of evidence linking electromagnetism and light.

4. Faraday Cage

Faraday discovered that an electric charge resides only on the exterior of a conductor and has no influence on anything enclosed within it. This principle led to the development of the Faraday Cage, which is used to shield electronic equipment from external electromagnetic fields.

Faraday's Inventions.

Later Years and Legacy:

Despite his scientific achievements, Faraday remained a humble and modest man. He declined offers of knighthood and twice refused the presidency of the Royal Society. In 1858, Faraday retired from active research due to declining health, but he continued to give public lectures, including the renowned Christmas Lectures for children at the Royal Institution.

Faraday died on August 25, 1867, at Hampton Court, where he had been given a house by Queen Victoria in recognition of his contributions to science.

Faraday's Electric Motor.

Fun Facts About Michael Faraday:

• Faraday was deeply religious and a member of the Sandemanian Church, a Christian sect that influenced his worldview and ethics.
• He had a passion for education and public engagement, delivering lectures that were accessible and engaging for a general audience.
• Faraday was entirely self-taught in mathematics, which he approached with a practical, experimental mindset rather than through formal education.

Conclusion:

Michael Faraday's life is a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and practical experimentation. His discoveries laid the groundwork for much of modern physics and engineering, particularly in the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. Faraday's legacy endures, not only in the scientific principles that bear his name but also in his approach to science—driven by wonder and a deep desire to understand the natural world. 

"Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature." -Micheal Faraday. 

M. Faraday.