Yablochkov

P avel Nicolayevich Yablochkov was born in Saratov Province, on September 26,1847.

At the age of 12, Yablochkov constructed a special geodetic instrument. That was his first invention.

When 14 years old, the boy was taken by his parents to Petersburg. Having finished school, he entered the Military Engineering College and later the Electrotechnical School for officers. At both these schools he studied mathematics, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, foreign languages, and other subjects. After graduating, he gave up the lucrative post of a military engineer and continued to perfect his knowledge in electrical engineering.

The practical application of the electric arc for lighting purposes begins with Yablochkov. Before him it had seemed impossible because the carbon rods between which the arc had to be formed burned out too quickly. The carbon electrodes burning out so quickly, the distance between them increased. On the other hand, the distance between the rods increasing, the arc itself went out. All the attempts of solving this problem were quite fruitless. The only man who found a solution to this most difficult problem was Yablochkov. He achieved it by placing the two carbon electrodes parallel to each other instead of placing them end to end as other electricians had done before him. Thus, the candle could burn for about one hour and a half.

On March 23, 1876, Yablochkov received the French patent for his ‘candle’ or ‘Russian candle’ as it was generally called.

Yablochkov’s candle was said to be the most interesting device at the London Exhibition of Physical Instruments in 1876. after that exhibition, his invention was demonstrated many times more at several other world exhibitions in Paris. It attracted general attention.

All newspapers and magazines of the time published articles discussing Yablochkov’s great invention. Reports concerning the candle were made at numerous scientific societies. The practical application of the electric candle spread and Yablochkov’s name became known all over the world.

While working at his candle, Yablochkov was the first to realize the advantages of a transformer. He employed a single-phase a.c. transformer with a broken magnetic system. He was also the first scientist who was fully aware of the advantages of the alternating current system and widely used the a.c. for practical purposes. Before him that kind of current had been employed for laboratory work alone.

Although offered great advantages and profits abroad, he came to Russia in order to organize mass production of the candle in his own fatherland.

II. Render the texts into English. Исаак Ньютон

Исаак Ньютон был одним из величайших ученых всех времен. Он родился в маленьком английском городе, в Линкольншире. Еще когда он был школьником, он очень интересовался моделированием. В возрасте 18 лет он стал учиться в Кембриджском университете. Он был прекрасным студентом, особенно в математике и физике.

В 22-летнем возрасте он разработал важнейшие формулы в математике, такие как бином Ньютона, а также основы дифференциального исчисления. Два года спустя он начал эксперименты со светом и доказал, что луч солнечного света состоит из пучка цветных полос от красного до фиолетового – как радуга. Эти полосы он назвал спектром.

Его величайшим достижением, тем не менее, было открытие трех законов механики и закона всемирного тяготения (law of universal gravitation). Он опубликовал эти законы в книге ‘Математические принципы натуральной философии’ в 1687 году.

Позже он был назначен (was appointed) профессором математики в Кембриджском университете и в 1703 году был избран президентом Королевского общества ученых (the Royal Society of Scientists), а в 1705 году был посвящен в рыцари (was knighted) королевой Анной.

Он умер в 1727 году и был похоронен (was buried) в Вестминстерском Аббатстве среди величайших людей Англии.