V. Comprehension.

Exercise 1. Ask groupmate the following questions. Let him (her) answer them.

1) if it is possible to see a single drop of water in the see; 2) if the steam generator of a nu­clear reactor contains water; 3) if man has learned to split atoms; 4) if atomic energy finds any new application in industry; 5) if the Soviet Union constructed the first nuclear power-plant in the world.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions.

1). What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?

2). What sources of energy do you know?

3). What form of energy can be changed into another form?

4). What are the industrial uses of electricity?

5). Can you name the device which changes chemical energy into electrical energy?

6). What is the difference between a battery and a generator?

7). What may coal be replaced by in future?

8). When was the first industrial nuclear power-station put into operation?

9). What electrical devices do you use at home?

10). What forms of energy do you know?

VI. Practice.

Exercise 1. Speak on:

1) the operation of nuclear reactor;

2) the nuclear power station;

3) the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Exercise 2. Retell the Text A using the phrases:

1). This text deal with...

2). Much attention is given to…

3). It is spoken in detail about…

4). It is stressed that…

5). …are given (are enumerated).

6). The fact that … is underlined.

VII. Reading and Practice.

Exercise 1. Read text B “Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough” and find the difference be­tween nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

Notes: breakthrough – прорив, велике відкриття

science fiction – опанувати, загнуздати

fusion – синтез, злиття

fission – розпад, розчеплення

conventional – традиційний, широковживаний

sustain – підтримувати, тривати

commercial – комерційний, торговельний

Text B.

Fusion breakthrough

The science fiction dream of clean, cheap, unlimited power is on its way to becom­ing reali­ty. For first time anywhere in the world, scientists at the joint European Tours (JET) experimental fusion reactor at Culham in Oxfordshire (England) have achieved con­trolled nuclear fusion – harnessing the reaction which powers the stars.

The success came when they put “real” fuel inside the reactor for the first time. Pre­viously only deuterium (a type of hydrogen) had been used in fusion experiments, but by adding tritium, they achieved the major breakthrough in the amount of energy which could be generated.

Fusion research has been going on for more then 40 years, and although bombs in­volving fusion power have been built, it is the first time that anyone has produced any sub­stantial amount of fusion power in a controlled fusion experiment as opposed to a bomb.

The key difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion is that fission involves splitting atoms apart, while fusion happens after atoms have been heated to an extremely high temperature and have violently struck each other and come together – or fused. Both normal nuclear fission and nuclear fusion create enormous amounts of energy, but the problem with conventional nuclear reactors is that they use heavy, unstable radioactive uranium atoms, splitting them apart and creating lighter more unstable and dangerous ele­ments such as plutonium, as well as vast amounts of heat.

By contrast, fusion relies on super-heating simpler “clean” atoms, making them strike each other with such force that they fuse together. The heat has to be around 200 million degrees – 20 times the heat of the sun. With current technology the reaction can only be sustained for several seconds, producing in that time the equivalent of one million watts of electricity.

Another important advantage of nuclear fusion is that the fuels needed for this type of reaction are plentiful. Deuterium is extracted from water, while tritium can be made in­side the reactor. Just 10 grams of deuterium and 15 grams of tritium would be enough to provide the lifetime electricity needs of an average person in an industrialized country.

It is supposed that the first commercial fusion-powered reactor could be produced by 2020.

Exercise 2. Complete the following on the basis of the information given in the text. Use the words and fragments of sentences given below.

1) the chemical elements; 2) to create energy; 3) create enormous quantities; 4) they use unstable atom; 5) creating dangerous elements and enormous heat; 6) to produce the first fusion reactor; 7) water; 8) be produced outside a reactor; 9)be produced inside the reactor.

1. Both normal nuclear fusion and nuclear fission … of energy, but the problem with conventional nuclear reactors is that ….

2. Nuclear fission has another advantage: it isn’t difficult to find … required for it.

3. In the recent experiment it was only possible to … fro a few seconds.

4. However, scientists hope to be able to … by the year 2020.

5. Stars like sun are … by nuclear fusion.

6. Because tritium was added to deuterium in the fusion experiment, …

7. Although bombs involving fusion power have been built, they are not yet any …

8. The main source of deuterium is …, but tritium cannot ….

Exercise 3. Answer the questions.

1). When did scientists achieve a major breakthrough in the amount of energy which could be generated?

2). What is the problem with conventional nuclear reactors?

3). What does fission involve?

4). When does fusion happen?

5). What does fusion rely on?

6). What is another important advantage of nuclear fusion?

7). When will the first commercial fusion powered reactor be produced?