Модуль 6 Advances in Space Research

Lessons 1. Objectives – to introduce the topic of “Gravity”, vocabulary on the topic, develop reading and understanding skills, encourage students to speak on the topic, revising/learning grammar “Modal verb” (this activity is for the entire Module)

• Have you ever dreamed to be an astronaut or a space researcher?

• Is space research important for mankind? Why?

• Can space technologies be beneficial for our life on Earth?

• What is the difference between Earth and space conditions?

Watch a short video¹ ( file 1.1) to shape the atmosphere of the lesson or listen to a talk² (file 1.2) and then answer the following questions:

1. What do you know about Mikhail Kornienko and Scott Kelly?

2. Why did they need to be helped from the capsule after landing?

3. What tests have they undergone?

4. What do you know about gravity?

Intensive Reading/ Active Vocabulary

Ex.1 Learn the following words/phrases:

accurately (adj) – точно application (n) – применение approximate (v) - быть приблизительно точным, верным, равным, тождественным; attractive force – сила притяжения cause (n) –дело, причина; (v) – вызывать (какое-либо явление), причинять complexity (n) - сложность 'consequence (n) – следствие, последствие distribution (n) – распределение fuse (v) – плавиться hydrogen (n) - водород in addition – кроме того, вдобавок include (v) – включать (содержать) increasingly (adv) – всё больше и больше, в возрастающем количестве interactions (n) - взаимодействия inversely (adv) – обратно (пропорционально)

phenomenon(n, мн.ч.-phenomena) – явление postulate (v) - принимать без доказательства prediction (n) – предположение, предсказание, расчётные данные pressure (n) – давление range (n) – радиус действия, расстояние, ряд, диапазон relativity (n) – относительность, теория относительности responsible for (to be responsible for) – ответственный за (отвечать за) result in (v) – приводить к, давать в результате scale (n) - масштаб; размер, уровень spacetime (n) - космическое время (в общей теории относительности) uneven (adj) – неровный, шероховатый

Ex.2 Read the text³ “Gravity” and headline its parts. Make notes of your headings.

Gravity or gravitation is a natural phenomenon by which all things with energy are brought towards (or 'gravitate' towards) one another, including stars, planets, galaxies and even light and sub-atomic particles. Gravity is responsible for the complexity in the Universe, by creating spheres of hydrogen. Hydrogen fuses under pressure to form stars and then grouping them into galaxies. On Earth, gravity gives weight to physical objects and causes the tides¹. Gravity has an infinite range², although its effects can become increasingly weaker on farther objects.

Gravity can be accurately described by the general theory of relativity (proposed by Albert Einstein in 1915). It describes gravity not as a force but as a consequence of the curvature³ of spacetime caused by the uneven distribution of mass/energy; and resulting in time dilation⁴, where time lapses⁵ more slowly in strong gravitation. The predictions of general relativity have been confirmed in all observations and experiments to date.

However, for most applications, gravity is well approximated by Newton's law of universal gravitation, which postulates that gravity is a force where two bodies of mass are directly drawn (or 'attracted') to each other. This is considered to occur over an infinite range, so that all bodies (with mass) in the Universe are drawn to each other no matter how far they are apart.

Gravity is the weakest of the four fundamental interactions of nature. On the other hand, gravity is the dominant interaction at the macroscopic scale, and is the cause of the formation, shape, and trajectory (orbit) of astronomical bodies. It is responsible for various phenomena observed on Earth and throughout the Universe; for example, it causes the Earth and the other planets to orbit the Sun, the Moon to orbit the Earth, the formation of tides, and the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and the Solar System. In addition, the general theory of relativity also predicts the existence of gravitational waves, which have since been observed directly by physics collaboration LIGO. It is the basis of current cosmological models of a consistently expanding Universe.

Notes to the text:

¹ cause the tides – вызывать отливы и приливы

² an infinite range – безграничный радиус действия

³ a consequence of the curvature – последствие изгиба

⁴ time dilation – замедление времени

⁵ time lapses – время идет (lapse (v) – идти,течь ( о времени)( lapse of time – течение времени)

Ex.3 Match the following words to their definitions.

1) hydrogen (n)	a) physical force effects on the object
2) cause (n)	b) an influence tending to change the motion of a body
3) distribution (n)	c) comprise or contain as part of a whole
4) predict(v)	d) in a way that is correct in all details
5) include (v)	e) the lightest of the chemical elements and has the simplest atomic structure
6) pressure (n)	f) say or estimate that (a specified thing) will happen in the future
7) force (n)	g) the way in which something is spread over an area
8) accurately (adv)	h) thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition

Ex.4 Match the words to their synonyms.

1) cause (v)	a) contain
2) prediction (n)	b) use
3) in addition	c) connection
4) accurately (adv)	d) put together
5) include (v)	e) forecast, prognosis
6) аррlication (n)	f) bring about, lead to
7) fuse (v)	g) exactly
8) relationship (n)	h) besides, also

Ex.5 Decide which statements are true. Correct the wrong statements.

1. Gravity is a natural phenomenon by which all things with energy are moved towards (or 'gravitate' towards) one another, including stars, planets, galaxies and even light and sub-atomic particles.T/F

2. Gravity is responsible for the complexity in the Universe, by creating spheres of oxygen — where oxygen fuses under pressure to form stars — and grouping them into galaxies. T/F

3. Time lapses more rapidly in strong gravitation. T/F

4. Gravity is close to Newton's law of universal gravitation. T/F

5. The attractive force is inversely proportional to the product of their masses. T/F

6. Scientists cannot agree that gravity is the cause of the formation, shape, and trajectory (orbit) of astronomical bodies. T/F

7. Gravity is responsible for various phenomena observed on Earth and throughout the Universe. T/F

8. Although A. Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves a century ago,

their existence has not been proved yet. T/F

Ex.6 Work in pairs: take turns to ask and answer the questions.

1. Gravity can be considered as a natural phenomenon. (Can….?)

2. Gravity is responsible for various phenomena observed on Earth and throughout the Universe; it causes the Earth and the other planets to orbit the Sun, the Moon to orbit the Earth, the formation of tides, and the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and the Solar System. (What effects…?)

3. Gravity can be described by the general theory of relativity. (What theory…?)

4. It was Albert Einstein who proposed the general theory of relativity in 1915. (Who…?; When…?)

5. The theory of relativity explains that time dilation results from the curvature of spacetime caused by the uneven distribution of mass/energy ( How…?)

6. The theory of relativity predicted the existence of gravitational waves. (What ...?)

7. The general theory of relativity is important for a cosmological model. (Is…?; Why…?)