Scientific practices and spreading of knowledge on electricity in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries: possibilities for a historical approach of the voltaic pile in basic education

Abstract In this paper, the panorama that underpin the construction of the first electric battery, known as the Voltaic pile, will be presented. For this purpose, an historical narrative was constructed from primary and secondary sources, and was inspired by the historiographical strand called Cultural History of Science. Taking the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, we sought to highlight the controversial aspects over the nature of animal fluid, the use of electricity for medicinal purposes and the electrical apparatus that emerged during this period, emphasizing that scientific theory and scientific practices weaves a complex relationship about the construction of knowledge. Thus, we seek show how socio-cultural context and the extra-laboratory practices were indispensable for the construction and establishment of scientific knowledge, such as the ways of spreading and popularizing knowledge in that context. Finally, we present some thoughts upon how the episode involving the construction of the Voltaic pile fosters relevant discussions about the complexity of the construction of scientific knowledge that shows great potential for work in science classes and, more especificaly, in physics classes.