Fleming , Sir John Ambrose

Fleming , Sir John Ambrose
(1849–1945) British physicist and electrical engineer
Fleming, who was born at Lancaster, studied for a short time at University College, London, but left before graduating. However, he continued his work for a science degree in his leisure hours while employed first in a shipwright's drawing office and later as a stockbroker's clerk. Between 1871 and 1880 he had alternate periods of school science teaching and further study, including working under James Clerk Maxwell from 1877 at the new Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. In 1881 he was appointed professor of mathematics and physics at University College, Nottingham. From 1882 to 1885 he worked as consultant to the Edison Electric Light Company in London. He was then appointed professor of electrical technology at University College, London, a post he held for 41 years.
At University College Fleming gave special courses and experimented on wireless telegraphy, cooperating a great deal with Guglielmo Marconi. One of Fleming's outstandingly important inventions was the thermionic vacuum tube, a rectifying device based on an effect discovered by Thomas Edison. Fleming's diode consisted of a glass bulb containing two electrodes. One, a metal filament, was heated to incandescence by an electric current, so that it emitted electrons by thermionic emission. The second electrode (the anode) could collect electrons if held at a positive potential with respect to the filament (the cathode) and a current would flow. Current could not flow in the opposite direction – hence the name ‘valve’ for such devices. Lee de Forest developed the device into the triode for amplifying current.
Other scientific contributions by Fleming included investigations into the property of materials, transformer design, electrical measurements, and photometry. He was an outstanding teacher and highly successful as a popular lecturer. Fleming's left hand rule and right hand rule are mnemonics for relating the direction of motion, magnetic field, and electric current in electric motors and generators respectively.

Scientists. . 2011.

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  • Fleming, Sir John Ambrose — ▪ British engineer born Nov. 29, 1849, Lancaster, Lancashire, Eng. died April 18, 1945, Sidmouth, Devon       English engineer who made numerous contributions to electronics, photometry, electric measurements, and wireless telegraphy.       After …   Universalium

  • John Ambrose Fleming — Sir John Ambrose Fleming (Lancaster, 29 de noviembre de 1848 Devon, 18 de abril de 1945), físico e ingeniero eléctrico británico. Estudió en el University College School y más tarde en el University College London. En noviembre de 1904 inventó el …   Wikipedia Español

  • John Ambrose Fleming — Sir John Ambrose Fleming (Lancaster, 29 de noviembre de 1848 Devon, 18 de abril de 1945), físico e ingeniero eléctrico británico). Estudió en el University College School y más tarde en el University College London. En noviembre de 1904 inventó… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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  • John Ambrose Fleming — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Fleming. Scientifique britannique et inventeur de la diode, Sir John Ambrose Fleming, parfois également appelé Ambrose John Fleming, est né à Lancaster le 29 novembre 1849 et à vécu jusqu’en avril 1945 …   Wikipédia en Français

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  • Ambrose John Fleming — John Ambrose Fleming Pour les articles homonymes, voir Fleming. Scientifique britannique et inventeur de la diode, Sir John Ambrose Fleming, parfois également appelé Ambrose John Fleming, est né à Lancaster le 29 novembre 1848 et à vécu …   Wikipédia en Français

  • fleming valve — “ noun Usage: usually capitalized F Etymology: after Sir John Ambrose Fleming died 1945 English electrical engineer, its inventor : diode * * * Electronics. (formerly) a diode. [named after Sir John Ambrose Fleming (1849 1945), English inventor… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Fleming — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sur les autres projets Wikimedia : « Fleming », sur le Wiktionnaire (dictionnaire universel) Plusieurs personnalités célèbres portent le… …   Wikipédia en Français

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