Nikola Tesla Biography, Inventions, and Facts.
                     NIKOLA TESLA: 
BIOGRAPHY, 
INVENTIONS, AND FACTS
Who Was Nikola Tesla?
• Nikola Tesla was an 
engineer and scientist 
known for designing the 
alternating-current (AC) 
electric system, which is 
the predominant electrical 
system used across the 
world today. 
• He also created the "Tesla 
coil," which is still used in 
radio technology. 
Source: www.biography.com
Early Life
• Tesla was born in Smiljan, 
Croatia, on July 10, 1856.
• Tesla was one of five 
children, including siblings 
Dane, Angelina, Milka and 
Marica. 
• Tesla's interest in electrical 
invention was spurred by 
his mother, Djuka Mandic, 
who invented small 
household appliances in 
her spare time while her 
son was growing up.
Source: www.biography.com
Education
• After studying at the 
Realschule, Karlstadt in 
Germany; the Polytechnic 
Institute in Graz, Austria; 
and the University of 
Prague during the 1870s, 
Tesla moved to Budapest, 
where for a time he 
worked at the Central 
Telephone Exchange.
Source: www.biography.com
Nikola Tesla vs. Thomas Edison
• In 1884 Tesla arrived in the 
United States with little 
more than the clothes on 
his back and a letter of 
introduction to famed 
inventor and business 
mogul Thomas Edison, 
whose DC-based electrical 
works were fast becoming 
the standard in the 
country.
Source: www.biography.com
First Solo Venture
• In 1885, Tesla received 
funding for the Tesla 
Electric Light Company 
and was tasked by his 
investors to develop 
improved arc lighting. 
• After successfully doing so, 
however, Tesla was forced 
out of the venture and for 
a time had to work as a 
manual laborer in order to 
survive.
Source: www.biography.com
Inventions
• Throughout his career, 
Tesla discovered, designed 
and developed ideas for 
several important 
inventions most of which 
were officially patented by 
other inventors including 
generators (electrical 
generators like batteries) 
and the induction motor. 
Source: www.biography.com
Radar technology
• He was also a pioneer in 
the discovery of radar 
technology, X-ray 
technology, remote control 
and the rotating magnetic 
field the basis of most AC 
machinery. 
• Tesla is most well-known 
for his contributions in AC 
electricity and for the Tesla 
coil.
Source: www.biography.com
AC Electrical System
• Tesla designed the 
alternating-current (AC) 
electrical system, which 
would quickly become the 
preeminent power system 
of the 20th century and 
has remained the 
worldwide standard ever 
since.
Source: www.biography.com
Hydroelectric Power Plant
• In 1895, Tesla designed 
what was among the first 
AC hydroelectric power 
plants in the United States, 
at Niagara Falls. 
Source: www.biography.com
Tesla Coil
• In the late 19th century, 
Tesla patented the Tesla 
coil, which laid the 
foundation for wireless 
technologies and is still 
used in radio technology 
today. 
• The heart of an electrical 
circuit, the Tesla coil is an 
inductor used in many 
early radio transmission 
antennas. 
Source: www.biography.com
How Did Nikola Tesla Die?
• Poor and reclusive, Tesla 
died of coronary 
thrombosis on January 7, 
1943, at the age of 86 in 
New York City, where he 
had lived for nearly 60 
years. 
Source: www.biography.com