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Alessandro Volta
(Como, actual Italia, 1745 - 1827) Fsico italiano que invent la primera pila
elctrica generadora de corriente continua. Desde joven mostr una gran
aficin al estudio de los fenmenos naturales. Recibi su primera formacin
en el colegio de jesuitas de su localidad natal, y, en oposicin a sus padres,
quienes le queran abogado, y a los maestros, que pretendan llevarle al
estado religioso, abandon los estudios regulares y emprendi por su
cuenta el cultivo de la fsica. A los dieciocho aos mantena ya
correspondencia con los principales electrlogos europeos.

Alessandro Volta

De 1765 a 1769, con la ayuda de su amigo Guilio Cesare Gattoni,

sacerdote, se dedic particularmente al estudio de los fenmenos
elctricos, que interpret de manera muy personal. En 1767 escribi acerca
de algunas observaciones e ideas sobre la electricidad a Giovan Battista
Beccaria, profesor de Turn, quien no las aprob. Volta le replic entonces
con su primer texto impreso que cabe considerar el germen de toda la
doctrina elctrica de Alessandro Volta.
En 1775, su inters por la electricidad le llev a inventar un artefacto
conocido como electrforo, empleado para generar electricidad esttica. Un
ao antes haba sido nombrado profesor de fsica del Colegio Real de Como.
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En 1778 identific y aisl el gas metano, y al ao siguiente pas a ocupar la
ctedra de fsica de la Universidad de Pava.
En 1780, un amigo de Volta, Luigi Galvani, observ que el contacto de dos
metales diferentes con el msculo de una rana originaba la aparicin de
corriente elctrica. Volta llev a cabo diversos experimentos acerca de los
fenmenos comprobados por Galvani, y tras su entusiasmo inicial, empez
a dudar de ellos y a considerarlos efecto de una excitacin provocada en los
nervios por la electricidad comn. En 1794, Volta comenz a experimentar
con metales nicamente, y lleg a la conclusin de que el tejido animal no
era necesario para producir corriente. Este hallazgo suscit una fuerte
controversia entre los partidarios de la electricidad animal y los defensores
de la electricidad metlica.
Hacia 1796-97, con el empleo de sus electroscopios y de su condensador,
Alessandro Volta comprob experimentalmente la existencia de un
desequilibrio elctrico, que llam "tensin", entre dos metales distintos
cualesquiera. Este descubrimiento fundamental le indujo a tratar de
conseguir la multiplicacin de tales desequilibrios mediante oportunas
cadenas de conductores en contacto. En el curso de las investigaciones que
llev a cabo por espacio de tres aos pudo comprobar una serie de
propiedades que le permitieron la construccin de la primera pila elctrica.
La demostracin, realizada en 1800, del funcionamiento de la primera pila
elctrica puso fin a las anteriores controversias y certific la victoria del
bando favorable a las tesis de Volta; un verdadero triunfo, que, sin
embargo, no alter la bondadosa serenidad del ilustre cientfico.
Un ao ms tarde, Alessandro Volta efectu ante Napolen una nueva
demostracin de su generador de corriente. Impresionado, el emperador
francs nombr a Volta conde y senador del reino de Lombarda. El
emperador de Austria, por su parte, lo design director de la facultad de
filosofa de la Universidad de Padua en 1815. Descubierta la pila, toda la
actividad de Volta se orient hacia el estudio de sus propiedades
estrictamente elctricas, como la intensidad y la conductividad, campo en
el que realiz ya algunos importantes avances y anticip otros.
Hombre excepcional por cultura, amplitud de juicio, vigor de ingenio, fuerza
dialctica, habilidad experimental, rectitud moral y fe religiosa, el sabio
falleci admirado y llorado por todo el mundo de la ciencia, y leg a la
posteridad el claro ejemplo de su vida y el gran beneficio de su obra. La
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unidad de fuerza electromotriz del Sistema Internacional lleva el nombre de
voltio en su honor desde el ao 1881.

Alessandro Volta
(Como, Italy today, 1745 - id., 1827) Italian physicist who invented the first
generating DC electric battery. From a young age he showed a great liking
to the study of natural phenomena. He received his first training in Jesuit
school in his hometown, and in opposition to their parents, who wanted a
lawyer, and teachers, who wanted to bring the religious state, abandoned
regular studies and embarked on their own culture physics. At eighteen she
maintained and correspondence with leading European electrologist.

Alessandro Volta

From 1765 to 1769, with the help of his friend Guilio Cesare Gattoni, priest,
to thestudy of electrical phenomena, who played very personally he was
particularly devoted. In 1767 he wrote about some observations and ideas
about electricity Giovan Battista Beccaria, professor of Turin, who not
approved. Volta will then replied with his first printed text, which can be
considered the germ of all electric doctrine of Alessandro Volta.
In 1775, his interest in electricity led him to invent a device known as
electrforo, used to generate static electricity. A year earlier he had been
appointed professor of physics at the Royal College of Como. In 1778 he
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identified and isolated methane gas, and the following year went to the
chair of physics at the University of Pavia.
In 1780, a friend of Volta, Luigi Galvani, noted that the contact of two
different metals with the muscle of a frog originated the appearance of
electric current. Volta conducted various experiments on the phenomena
tested by Galvani, and after his initial enthusiasm, began to doubt them
and to consider effect of nerve excitement caused by the common
electricity. In 1794, Volta began experimenting with metals only, and
concluded that animal tissue was not necessary to produce current. This
finding aroused strong controversy between supporters of animal electricity
and defenders of the metal electricity.
By 1796-97, with the use of their electroscopes and its condenser,
Alessandro Volta experimentally proved the existence of an electrical
imbalance, which he called "tension" between any two dissimilar
metals. This fundamental discovery led him to try to get the multiplication
of such imbalances through appropriate contact chains drivers. In the
course of the investigations carried out for three years he was able to see a
number of properties that allowed the construction of the first electric
battery.The demonstration, held in 1800, the operation of the first electric
battery ended the previous controversies and certified the victory of pro
Volta theses side; a real triumph, which, however, did not alter the gracious
serenity of the illustrious scientist.
A year later, Alessandro Volta before Napoleon made a new demonstration
of its power generator. Impressed, the French emperor appointed Count
Volta and senator of the kingdom of Lombardy. The Emperor of Austria,
meanwhile, appointed him director of the department of philosophy at the
University of Padua in 1815. Discovery of the stack, all Volta activity was
oriented towards the study of their strictly electrical properties such as
intensity and conductivity field that already made some important progress
and anticipated others.
exceptional man by culture, breadth of view, force of wit, dialectical force,
experimental skill, moral rectitude and religious faith, the sage died
admired and cried throughout the world of science, and bequeathed to
posterity the example of his life and the great benefit of his work. The unit
of electromotive force of the International System volt is named in his
honor since 1881.
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Tels. (938) 381 6700 381 6701 381 6702 381 6703 381 6704