Westinghouse Electric (1886)

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/westinghouse-electric-1886

1. What is Westinghouse Electric (1886) known for?
2. What is the company founding year?
3. What is the founder?
4. What was Westinghouse Electric and when was it founded?
5. Why did George Westinghouse choose alternating current instead of direct current?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Westinghouse Electric (1886) known for?Pioneering work in radio broadcasting, nuclear power, electric motors, and turbines
2. What is the company founding year?1886
3. What is the founder?George Westinghouse
4. What was Westinghouse Electric and when was it founded?Westinghouse Electric was a company started in 1886 by inventor George Westinghouse to create and use alternating current (AC) electrical systems.
5. Why did George Westinghouse choose alternating current instead of direct current?He believed AC could travel far with little energy loss, making it better for powering many places at once.

Alternating Current (AC): An electrical current characterized by periodic reversals of direction, enabling efficient long-distance power transmission.
Hydroelectric Power Generation: The process of converting the kinetic energy of moving water into electrical energy using turbines and generators.
Electrification: The process of supplying electricity to a region or facility, fundamentally transforming infrastructure and daily life.
Infrastructure Development: The construction and maintenance of essential facilities and systems, such as power grids, transportation networks, and communication systems.