1. Energy is the source of life

scientifically – научно

energy – энергия, сила

ability – способность, умение

various – различный, разный

heat – теплота, жар

to mention – упоминать, ссылаться на

potential – потенциальный, возможный

kinetic – кинетический

to change – изменять, менять

waterfall – водопад

raised position – приподнятое положение

to drive – гонять, вести

generator – генератор

to produce – производить, создавать

to turn – вертеть, поворачивать

to transform – преобразовывать, превращать

to employ – принять, использовать

current – электрический ток

source – источник

application – применение, употребление

quantity – количество

owing to – благодаря, из-за, вследствие

Text

Scientifically speaking, energy is the ability to do work. There are various forms of energy, such as: heat, mechanical, electrical, chemical, atomic and so on. One might also mention the two kinds of mechanical energy-potential and kinetic, potential energy being energy of position while kinetic energy is energy of motion. It is well known that one form of energy can be changed into another.

Take a waterfall as an example. Water falling from its raised position, the energy changes from potential to kinetic. If there is a hydroelectric station at the waterfall, the energy of the falling water is used to drive the turbines. The turbines, driven by the kinetic energy of the running water, turn electric generators, these generators producing electric energy. Thus, the mechanical energy of falling water is turned into electric energy. The electric energy, in its turn, may be transformed into any other necessary form.

When an object loses its potential energy, that energy is turned into kinetic energy. Thus, in the above-mentioned example when water is falling from its raised position, it certainly loses its potential energy, that energy changing into kinetic energy (Fig. 1).

Needless to say that rising standards of modern civilization and growing industrial applications result in an increasing need of energy. Every year we need more and more electric energy for the useful things that are done only owing to electricity. However, the energy sources of the world are decreasing at the same time as the energy needs of the world are increasing. These needs will continue to grow as more motors and melted metals are used in industry and more electric current is employed in our everyday life. As a result, it is necessary to find new sources of energy.

Figure 1 Examples of kinetic energy.

Exercises

1. Give answers to the following questions:

   1. Can one form of energy be changed into another form?

   2. Does a generator produce mechanical energy?

   3. Is the sun an unlimited source of energy?

   4. Can we employ solar energy directly?

   5. Have scientists transformed solar energy into electric energy?

   6. Is potential energy the energy of motion?

   7. Do we need more and more electric energy every year?

   8. Are there various forms of energy?

   9. Do you use electric energy every day?

   10. Can the energy of falling water be used to drive the turbines?

   11. Is kinetic energy the energy of position?

2. Translate the following sentences:

   1. Падающая вода может приводить в действие турбину.

   2. Говоря об энергии, мы могли бы упомянуть потенциальную и кинетическую энергию.

   3. Работая в лаборатории, студент пользовался электрическими приборами.

   4. Прочитав второй урок, мы начали переводить его.

   5. Химические источники тока находят ограниченное применение в промышленности.

3. Describe Fig. 1.

4. Speak on the topic «Energy».

1-2. SOLAR ENERGY

Vocabulary

mechanical – механический

theory – теория

to state – утверждать

configuration – очертание, форма

to extend – расширять

measure – мера, измерение

to increase – увеличивать

volume – объем

to require – требовать

to separate – отделять

mutual – взаимный, обоюдный

attraction – притяжение, тяготение

to store – запасать, откладывать

aggregate – совокупность

fusion – плавка, слияние

vaporization – испарение

internal energy – внутренняя энергия

to assume – присваивать, предпологать

therefore – поэтому, следовательно

dealing – имея дело

conventional – условный

foot-pound (ft.-lb.) – футо-фунт

horsepower-hour (hp.-hr.) – лошадиная сила

equal – равный

numerical – числовой, цифровой

to determine – определять, устанавливать

accurately – точно, правильно, метко

Text

The mechanical theory of heat states that heat is a form of energy due to the motion or configuration of the molecules of a body. Like mechanical energy, heat energy may be of the kinetic or of the potential form. The kinetic theory of gases shows that the temperature of a body is a measure of its thermal kinetic energy. The temperature rising, the thermal kinetic energy is increased. The temperature falling, the thermal kinetic energy is decreased.Thermal potential energy is due to the position or configuration of the molecules of a body. Thus the volume of the body being increased, work is required to separate the molecules against their mutual attractions, and this work is stored as potential energy. Again, the state of aggregate being changed, as in fusion or vaporization, work is required to break down the molecular structure, and this work is stored in the system as potential energy. In the case of gases, like air and nitrogen, the attractive forces between the molecules are so small that the thermal potential energy is practically zero. The internal energy of a gas is therefore assumed to be wholly of the kinetic form.

While dealing with energy the conventional units are:

1. for mechanical energy, the foot-pound (ft.-lb.) and the horsepower-hour (hp.-hr.), which is equal to 1,980,000 ft.-lb.;

2. for heat energy, the British thermal unit (B.t.u.), which is defined as the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 63° to 64° F.

3. for mechanical equivalent of heat lB.t.u. = 777.64 ft.-lb. lhp.-hr. = 2546.2 B.t.u.

This numerical relation between the unit of heat and the unit of work has been determined very accurately from experiments.

Exercises

1. Find the English equivalents to the following Russian sentences:

   1. Если температура тела поднимается, его тепловая кинетическая энергия увеличивается.

   2. Когда температура падает, тепловая кинетическая энергия тела уменьшается.

   3. Таким образом, если объем тела увеличивается, если (когда) агрегатное состояние изменяется.

2. Point out which sentence expresses the main idea of the text (A):

   1. The numerical relation between the unit of heat and the unit of work has been determined very accurately from experiments.

   2. While dealing with mechanical energy the conventional units are - the foot-pound (ft.-lb.) and the horsepower-hour (hp.-hr.).

   3. Heat, being a form of energy, may be of the kinetic or of the potential form.

Vocabulary

impossible – невозможный

servant – слуга, прислуга

to discover – открывать

discovery – открытие

powerful – мощный, сильный

thermonuclear – термоядерный

anti-matter – антивещество

to lock up – запирать на замок

nuclei – ядра

nucleus – ядро

matter – вещество, материя

at least – по крайней мере

to release – освобождать, выпускать

to split (split, split )– расщеплять, делить на части

to succeed (in) – преуспевать, достигать цели

to break (broke, broken) – ломать, разрушать, прерывать

apart – в стороне, особняком, отдельно

to harness – запрягать, использовать

pound – фунт (единица веса), фунт (стерлингов)

to burn, burnt, burnt – жечь, сжигать, гореть

evil – зло, вред

purpose – цель, намерение

possibility – возможность

medicine – медицина, лекарство

application – заявление, просьба, применение

Text

The first source of energy which man made serve him was the energy of fire. Many thousand years passed before man learned how to use another source of energy-water, then man made steam serve him; and then man had another servant-electricity. At that time it was impossible to imagine anything more perfect than electricity. But man would not and did not stop at electricity; he discovered another source of energy, many times more powerful the atomic energy. What will man have in the future? What kind of energy will he be trying to use? Thermonuclear energy? Or the energy of "anti-matter"? We may be sure that discovery of atomic energy is just an episode in the history of human progress. But our age is the age of atomic nuclei which is to transform the world.

All the sources of energy put together is the energy locked up in the nuclei of atoms of matter itself. It has been known for at least a century. It is called nuclear energy.

The amount of energy which might be released when the nucleus of one atom is split is very small. But scientists have succeded in breaking apart the nuclei of billions of atoms and in harnessing their energy. A pound of U235 (Uranium-235) can supply as much energy as the burning up of 3,000,000 pounds of coal. Nuclear energy can be used for good and evil. Mankind is interested in atomic energy being used only for peaceful purposes.

Many atomic power plants for producing electric energy were built in many countries of the world. There are great possibilities of using nuclear energy for transport purposes. A number of countries are working at the development and construction of various kinds of locomotives, airplanes and other means of transport. Many atomic powered ships have been already built. Nuclear energy is and will be used in medicine and in many spheres of life where the atom may find useful application.

Exercises

1. Answer the following questions:

   1. What were the first sources of energy?

   2. Is electricity more perfect source of energy than the previous ones?

   3. What source of energy was discovered at the end of the 19th century?

   4. Thermonuclear and "anti-matter" engines will be the ones of the future, won’t they?

   5. Where are all the sources of energy put together?

   6. What have the scientists succeeded in?

   7. How much energy can uranium-235 supply?

   8. How and where can nuclear energy be used?

   9. Are there great possibilities of using nuclear energy for mankind?

   10. Is nuclear energy used in many spheres of life?

2. Translate the given words from English into Russian and make up sentences with them.

nuclei, nucleus, nuclear, matter, to split, to succeed, to harness, pound, purpose, to burn, application, thermonuclear, «anti-matter», to transform.

3. Read the article.

Vocabulary

alive – живой, бодрый

however – однако, тем не менее

supply – запасы

pipe – труба, трубопроводы

petrol – бензин

to use – использовать, употреблять

own – свой, собственный

to burn (burnt, burnt) – сжигать

to provide – снабжать, обеспечивать

wheel – колесо

windmill – ветряная мельница

fossil fuels – ископаемое топливо, органическое топливо

to harm – вредить

geothermal – геометрический

Text

Everyone needs energy just to keep alive. However, we also use a lot of energy running machines to help us in our work and play. Almost all homes in Europe, North America, Australia, and other industrialized countries have a supply of electricity for lighting and heating and to run the TVs, washing machines and other electrical machines. Pipes usually bring a supply of gas as well as for cooking or heating. We also have cars which get their energy from petrol. In many developing countries people are much poorer and use a lot less energy.

Thousands of years ago people had only the sun's energy and their own energy. They burnt wood for heat, and animals provided energy to carry things and work on the farms. Then they learnt to use energy in rivers to turn water wheels, and the energy in wind to drive windmills and sailing ships. About 200 years ago they began to burn fossil fuels.

Most of the energy we use today comes from the fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. But these will not last long because they are not being replaced. Also, burning them is slowly harming the atmosphere. Engineers are now looking for other ways of supplying energy. Modern windmills are being built in groups to produce electricity from the wind. In some places, the sea water flowing to and fro with the tides will also turn turbines, and even waves on the sea can produce electricity. The sun's energy can be collected by solar panels which heat water, or by solar cells which produce electricity when light falls on them. Geothermal energy comes from the hot rocks inside the earth which can heat water and make electricity. All these methods can supply our energy and they do not harm the atmosphere. But people go on using fossil fuels because they are still the cheapest and most convenient way to get energy.

Exercises

1. Answer the questions:

   1. What do we use to keep alive?

   2. What helps us in our work and play?

   3. Where do you use electricity?

   4. How did people live thousands years ago?

   5. What happened 200 years ago?

   6. What fossil fuels do you know?

   7. Why are engineers looking for other ways of supplying energy nowadays?

   8. How can the sun’s energy be collected?

   9. Why do people go on using fossil fuels?

2. Find Russian equivalents for the following words: energy, machine, industrialized countries, to supply, electricity, heating, wood, wheels, windmill, turbine.

3. Read the article

Choose the correct answer of the given ones out :

Начало формы

1. What is the Sun?

a) a mass of flaming matter b) a big ball c) our neighbor d) a planet

2. How many years has the life on the Earth existed?

a) more than 50 million years b) more than 500 million years c) more than 150 million years d) more than 300 million years

3. What is the diameter of the Sun?

a) more than one million kilometers b) more than one million decimeters c) more than one million centimeters d) more than one million millimeters

4. What planet does the Moon rotate around?

a) the Sun b) the Venus c) the Earth d) the Mars

5. How many planets with their satellites revolve round the Sun?

a) eight planets b) seven planets c) ten planets d) nine planets

Конец формы