Exercises

1. Translate the sentences paying attention to the conjunction both…and:

1. In later years both light sources and lasers were built on the basis of transistors. 2. Both silicon and germanium are semiconductors. 3. Transistors are very sensitive both to the action of light and to that of nuclear particles. 4. Both cadmium sulphide and number of other transistors act as insulators in darkness. 5. Some of the photoresistances react both to visible light and to radioactive radiation. 6. Such photoresistances are successfully used as the main elements both for various measuring instruments and automatic devices.

2. Translate the following words and word-combinations:

Heat energy, radio engineering, transistor crystals, , vacuum tubes, light sources, future technology, room lighting, radioactive radiation, light-energy, engineering purposes, semiconductor devices, high voltage transmission lines, coal deposits, to power machines, to power spaceships with electricity, to occupy an intermediate place, to impart new properties, to impart knowledge, one per cent of admixtures, different admixtures, admixtures of some metals, to expand the range of transistors, to expand the use of crystals, to expand the application of new measuring instruments, in this case, in that case, in case, some of simple compounds, the same simple compounds, some tiny crystals, the same tiny crystals, the so-called solar batteries, the so-called photoresistances, because, because of, by means of, by no means, by all means

3. Group the synonyms and translate them:

Demand v get v

Precisely adv receive v

Small-sized a decrease v

Obtain v aim n

Ordinarily adv exactly adv

Reduce v small-dimensioned a

Purpose n usually adv

require v

4. Group the antonyms and translate them:

Successful a outside adv

Visible a inner a

Like a impossible a

Directly adv inexhaustible a

Inside adv unreliable a

Possible a complex a

Increase v unlike a

Exhaustible a indirectly adv

Reliable a invisible a

Simple a decrease v

Outer a unsuccessful a

5. Translate the words paying attention to the prefixes pre-, super-, in-, dis-:

prerevolutionary, prehistoric, pre-establish, prefabricated, predetermined, pre-set, precast, preheat, pre-sonic, superprecise, superconductor, superconductivity, super-high, inexhaustible, impossible, irregular, disadvantage, disconnect

6. Translate the sentences using either…or, both...and, as well as:

1. Напівпровідники використовуються як у фізиці, так і в техніці.

2. Метали та діелектрики є або дуже добрими, або дуже поганими провідниками електрики.

3. Сульфід кадмію, як і інші транзистори, діють як ізолятори у темряві.

7. Translate the sentences paying attention to the meanings of “provided”:

1. These experiments provided data necessary for the completion of our research. 2. All the members of the expedition are provided with all the necessary things. 3. Provided our plant is equipped with up-to-date machinery, we’ll be able to raise the quality of the manufactured goods.

8. Make up questions to the words in bold type:

1. Small dimensioned electronic devices consume very little power. 2. Under ordinary room lighting the resistance of transistors decreases millions of times. 3. Transistors revolutionized radioelectronics and electronics.

9. Fill in the blanks with the words given below:

Transformation, energy, properties, supply, insulators, sensitive, occupy, efficiency.

1. Semiconductors … an intermediate place between metals and insulators.

2. The transistors are successfully used for direct … of heat energy into electrical power.

3. Transistors are extremely … to external influences.

4. Cadmium sulphide as well as a number of other transistors, act as … in darkness.

5. The photoelectric … of transistors are largely used in TV sets, and other devices.

6. In this case electricity is directly transformed into light energy with great … .

7. The … of transistors is inexhaustible.

8. The … of light is transformed directly into electricity in photocells.

10. Finish the sentences:

    1. Semiconductors occupy …

    2. The transistors are successfully used for …

    3. Transistors are extremely …

    4. Cadmium sulphide as well as …

    5. The photoelectric properties of transistors …

    6. The turning of the tiny crystal into a transistor device …

    7. A very fine technology has been developed for…

TEXT 10 B

Transistors and Semiconductor Devices

Study the text. Try to understand all details. Use a dictionary if necessary:

1. Devices consisting of solid pieces of crystalline material which allowed alternating current to flow more readily in one direction than the other were known long before the invention of the thermionic valve. The crystal set¹ which became so well known in the early days of radio depended on the rectifying action at the point of contact between the surface of certain crystals and a fine wire. Crystal valves², using silicon crystals, were found to be more efficient for the very high frequency signals reaching radar receivers than any thermionic valves. The action of these devices was not understood, but they were all made from materials which we now classify as semiconductors: substances which let electric current pass through them more easily than insulators do but much less easily than do true conductors.

2. In 1948 Bardeen and Brattain invented the point-contact transistor and Shockley invented the junction transistor shortly after. The transistor is a semiconductor triode possessing characteristics which are similar in many respects to those of thermionic triodes. At present transistors are widely used in amplifiers, receivers, transmitters, oscillators, TV sets, measuring instruments, pulse circuits, computers, and many other types of radio equipment.

3. The invention of transistors and solid-state devices led to an acceleration in the growth of electronics. Why were these new devices so important and why are they steadily replacing their older equivalents? A brief review of their advantages compared with thermionic devices will provide the answers to these questions. Transistors are made from parts which do not wear out. Transistors waste very little power. They require no heating to generate their free electrons. This means that equipment made with transistors is more efficient, lighter than comparable valve equipment.

4. Since no heating is required there is no delay in transistor equipment waiting for things to warm up, as there is with thermionic valves. This is a great advantage with ‘entertainment’ equipment, such as radio and television receivers, and it may be vital with some kinds of measuring or recording equipment.

5. Their very small size and weight, combined with low heat dissipation³, permits very high density packing of components and, in combination with their reliability, this has made possible the design of the very compact circuits which are essential for such applications as computers, portable measuring instruments, satellite instrumentation, etc.

No t e s

1. crystal set – детекторний приймач

2. crystal valve – кристалічний прилад

3. heat dissipation – розсіювання тепла