William Gilbert, in De Magnete, invented the Neo-Latin word electricus from '' (elektron), the Greek word for "amber". Gilbert undertook a number of careful electrical experiments, in the course of which he discovered that many substances other than amber, such as sulphur, wax, glass, etc.,Priestley, Joseph (1757) History of Electricity. London were capable of manifesting electrical properties. Gilbert discovered that a heated body lost its electricity and that moisture prevented the electrification of all bodies. He noticed that electrified substances attracted all other substances indiscriminately, whereas a magnet only attracted iron. The many discoveries of this nature earned Gilbert the title founder of the electrical science.Maver, William, Jr.: "Electricity, its History and Progress", The Encyclopedia Americana; a library of universal knowledge, vol. X, pp. 172ff. (1918). New York: Encyclopedia Americana Corp. By investigating the forces on a light metallic needle, balanced on a point, he extended the list of electric bodies and found that many substances, including metals and natural magnets, showed no attractive forces when rubbed. He noticed that dry weather with north or east wind was the most favourable atmospheric condition for exhibiting electric phenomena—an observation liable to misconception until the difference between conductor and insulator was understood.Dampier, W.C.D. (1905). The theory of experimental electricity. Cambridge physical series. Cambridge [Eng.: University Press.
wiLliam giLBErT, in De magNeTe, iNVented the neo-LaTIn Word eLecTrIcUs from '' (ElektroN), the greek word For "amber". GilbErt uNdErTook a NuMBer of careful elEcTricAl EXPErimEnts, in tHe coURsE of wHich he DiScoVered THAt manY sUbsTAncEs other Than amber, suCH aS sulpHur, wax, glaSs, Etc.,prIestleY, JOsePh (1757) hiSTOrY of eLeCTRICity. lONdOn were capaBle OF mAniFEsTiNG eLectrIcal propertiEs. gilbeRt dIscoveREd that a heateD boDy loST its elecTricItY anD thAt moisTure PrevenTed ThE eLECtriFicaTion of alL bOdies. he NoticeD THAt eleCTrifIed SubStances attraCted alL other substaNces INdisCrimInately, whereAS A MagNet onLy attRacteD irON. tHE maNy discoVErIes of thIs NaTUrE eaRned gilbert thE TiTle founder oF THE electrIcaL SciEnce.mAVer, wilLiam, JR.: "electRicitY, Its hIstorY anD progresS", thE encyclopEDia americAna; a library Of uniVersaL KnowLeDGe, vOl. X, pP. 172Ff. (1918). New york: enCyclopeDia aMeRicanA corP. By iNVestiGaTINg The ForCeS on a Light metAlLIC neeDle, bAlancED on A poInt, he eXTEnDed thE list OF eLecTric BOdies and fOUnd thAT MANy SubstanceS, inCLUding metAls aNd naTural maGnets, Showed no ATtRactive forCEs WHen Rubbed. he NOTiced tHAT DRy WeAther WitH noRth Or East wind WAs the most fAvOurABLe atmoSpheric cOnDitioN fOr eXhibiting electRic phENomena—aN oBsErvAtiOn lIablE tO mIsconcEPTiOn Until thE diFfERenCe BetwEen cOnDuctOr AnD iNsuLatoR WaS UNdErStood.dampIeR, w.c.D. (1905). tHe thEOry Of ExpERImEnTal eLectriCity. cAmbrIDGE phySicaL serieS. caMBRidgE [Eng.: uNiverSity pREss.