tesla
[ tes-luh ]
/ ˈtɛs lə /
noun
a unit of magnetic induction equal to one weber per square meter. Abbreviation: T
Origin of tesla
named after N.
Tesla
Words nearby tesla
terza rima,
terzetto,
tes,
teschenite,
tesl,
tesla,
tesla coil,
tesol,
tess,
tess of the d'urbervilles,
tessa
Definition for tesla (2 of 2)
Tesla
[ tes-luh ]
/ ˈtɛs lə /
noun
Ni·ko·la
[nik-oh-luh] /ˈnɪk oʊ lə/,1856–1943,
U.S. physicist, electrical engineer, and inventor, born in Croatia.
Example sentences from the Web for tesla
British Dictionary definitions for tesla (1 of 2)
tesla
/ (ˈtɛslə) /
noun
the derived SI unit of magnetic flux density equal to a flux of 1 weber in an area of 1 square metre
Symbol: T
Word Origin for tesla
C20: named after Nikola
Tesla
British Dictionary definitions for tesla (2 of 2)
Tesla
/ (ˈtɛslə) /
noun
Nikola (ˈnɪkələ). 1857–1943, US electrical engineer and inventor, born in Smiljan, now in Croatia. His inventions include a transformer, generators, and dynamos
Medical definitions for tesla
tesla
[ tĕs′lə ]
n.
A unit of magnetic field intensity in the International System of Units equal to the magnitude of the magnetic field vector necessary to produce a force of one newton on a charge of one coulomb moving perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field vector with a velocity of one meter per second.
Scientific definitions for tesla (1 of 2)
tesla
[ tĕs′lə ]
The SI derived unit of magnetic flux density, equal to the magnitude of the magnetic field vector necessary to produce a force of one newton on a charge of one coulomb moving perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field vector with a velocity of one meter per second. It is equivalent to one weber per square meter.
Scientific definitions for tesla (2 of 2)
Tesla
Nikola 1856-1943
Serbian-born American electrical engineer and physicist who in 1881 discovered the principles of alternating current. He went on to invent numerous devices and procedures that were essential to the harnessing of electricity and the development of radio.
Biography
The Serbian-born inventor Nikola Tesla came to America when he was 28 years old. After working briefly for Thomas Edison, Tesla set up his own laboratory and immediately launched a succession of discoveries and inventions. At the time, most commercially generated electricity was distributed over a direct current (DC) system invented by Edison's lab. This system was very expensive and inefficient for a variety of reasons. To be practical and safe, everyday use of electricity generally required low voltages, but transmission of low-voltage power is very inefficient. Generators at the time easily generated alternating current (AC), but not steady DC, and conversion was difficult. Finally, converting high-voltage DC power required for efficient transmission to low voltage power presented yet another set of technical difficulties. Tesla was a staunch proponent of using AC throughout the power supply chain. He demonstrated that AC power could be transmitted efficiently at high voltages over very long distances, and it could be brought down to safe voltages easily with the use of transformers. After Tesla sold the patents to his AC system to George Westinghouse in 1885, there ensued a competition for dominance between Edison's DC system and Westinghouse's AC. Tesla gave public demonstrations of electricity to ease people's fears about the safety of the AC system, even to the point of having currents passed through his body to ignite flames. Tesla's approach won out; the first power plants at Niagara Falls used the AC system to power the city of Buffalo, New York. Tesla's invention of motors and generators using the AC system helped to ensure its success at replacing direct current throughout the country. Beyond his pioneering work in the production and transmission of electromagnetic energy (including what we now know as radio transmission), Tesla's inventions include the Tesla coil (an induction coil used in radio and television technology), a kind of bladeless turbine, remote control systems, and dozens of other devices-over 700 patents in all.