Vasily Vladimirovich Petrov was a Russian experimental physicist and a self-taught expert in electrical engineering, becoming the founder of this science in Russia. He was an academician of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences and was the first to introduce the term "resistance" as a physical quantity describing the ability of a substance to resist electric current.

Petrov was born on July 19, 1761, in Oboyan, Kursk region, in a priest's family. He received his education at the Kharkov College and the St. Petersburg Teacher's Seminary. In 1788, he became a teacher of mathematics and physics at the Kolyvansko-Voskresensky Mining School in Barnaul, and in 1791 he moved to St. Petersburg, where he taught at the engineering school of the Izmailovsky Regiment.

In 1793, he was invited by the St. Petersburg Medical College to teach at the Medical-Surgical School, where he became an extraordinary professor after the school was transformed into an academy in 1795. Petrov created a modern physics cabinet for that time based on Buturlin's collection of instruments.

His first work, "Collection of Physical-Chemical New Experiments and Observations," was published in 1801 and earned him the title of ordinary professor. Inspired by the discoveries of Galvani and Volta, Petrov conducted a series of experiments described in the book "Report on Galvani-Voltaic Experiments," where he studied the electrolysis of various substances and the generation of electric light.

In 1802, Petrov discovered the phenomenon of the electric arc and proved its practical value for melting and welding metals. He also created a large galvanic battery with an electromotive force of about 1700 V, consisting of 4200 copper and zinc discs, and was the first to apply insulation. He investigated the properties of the battery, showing that its operation is based on chemical reactions.

Petrov also first noted the properties of the battery poles and questioned the direction of the movement of the galvani-voltaic fluid. In 1803, he became a correspondent of the Academy of Sciences, and four years later, a member. He edited the translation of Schrader's physics textbook and published the work "New Electric Experiments" in 1804, dedicated to electricity from friction.

Petrov also studied the physical properties of snow and discovered the phenomenon of sublimation of snow and ice. In addition to his work at the Medical-Surgical Academy, he taught at the Academy of Arts, the Second Cadet Corps, and the Technological Institute. After forty years of service, he retired in February 1833.

Vasily Vladimirovich Petrov passed away on August 3, 1834, at the age of 73.