Copper and Technology

Read the following text and match titles (A‑F) with passages (1‑5). Mind that there will be two left unused.

(1) The major applications of copper are in electrical wires (60 %), roofing and plumbing (20 %) and industrial machinery (15 %). Copper is mostly used as a metal, but when a higher hardness is required it is combined with other elements to make an alloy (5 % of total use) such as brass and bronze. A small part of copper supply is used in production of compounds for nutritional supplements and fungicides in agriculture. Machining of copper is possible, although it is usually necessary to use an alloy for intricate parts to get good machinability characteristics.

(2) The electrical properties of copper are exploited in copper wires and devices such as electromagnets. Integrated circuits and printed circuit boards increasingly feature copper in place of aluminium because of its superior electrical conductivity; heat sinks and heat exchangers use copper as a result of its superior heat dissipation capacity to aluminium. Vacuum tubes, cathode ray tubes, and the magnetrons in microwave ovens use copper, as do wave guides for microwave radiation.

(3) Copper’s greater conductivity versus other metallic materials enhances the electrical energy efficiency of motors. This is important because motors and motor-driven systems account for 43 %‑46 % of all global electricity consumption and 69 % of all electricity used by industry. Increasing the mass and cross section of copper in a coil increases the electrical energy efficiency of the motor. Copper motor rotors, a new technology designed for motor applications where energy savings are prime design objectives, are enabling general-purpose induction motors to meet and exceed National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) premium efficiency standards.

(4) Because of the waterproof nature of copper, it has been used as the roofing material of many buildings since ancient times. The green color on these buildings is due to a long-term chemical reaction: copper is first oxidized to copper (II) oxide, then to cuprous and cupric sulfide and finally to copper (II) carbonate, also called verdigris, which is highly corrosion-resistant. The copper used in this application is phosphorus deoxidized copper (Cu-DHP). Lightning rods use copper as a means to divert electric current throughout the ground instead of destroying the main structure. Copper has excellent brazing and soldering properties and can be welded; the best results are obtained with gas metal arc welding.

1. Architecture and industry

2. Electronics and related devices

3. Copper alloys usage

4. Electric motors

5. Copper compounds

6. Сopper application

Exercise 17. Choose the correct answer according to the text.

1. One fifth of copper usage belongs to …

1. preparing alloys.

2. plumbing and roofing.

3. machines productions.

4. electrical wires.

2. Copper alloys are used to …

   1. decrease prices on machinery production.

   2. produce different sculptures.

   3. supply agriculture.

   4. harden machinery parts.

3. Aluminium …

   1. has a better heat dissipation capacity than copper.

   2. is widely used as copper substitute.

   3. has the same electrical properties as copper.

   4. is inferior to copper in thermal capacity.

4. The great conductivity of copper allows the material to…

   1. meet efficiency standards.

   2. decrease motor efficiency.

   3. consume almost a half of all global electricity.

   4. Compete NEMA.

5. Which sentence is not true?

   1. Copper alloys have a green colour.

   2. Copper is used in roofing because of a low corrosion resistance.

   3. Copper rods conduct electricity through the ground.

   4. When welded copper is good to braze.

Exercise 18. Discuss the following questions.

1. Can you explain in simple terms what the difference in fiber optics and traditional copper cables?

2. And do signals really travel faster in fiber optics?

3. What are the advantages of fiber optics?

4. Can you give me a definition of structured cabling?

5. What are some of the uses of fiber optic cabling in the business world? 

6. How do you classify fiber optic cable?

7. What type of fiber is required to run at gigabit speed?

Exercise 19. Grammar test.

1. I don’t mind … alone.

a. to work

b. to working

c. working

d. work

2. Me jeans need … .

a. wash

b. washing

c. to wash

d. washed

3. I wasn’t allowed … out unless my parents knew where I was going.

a. going

b. to

c. go

d. to going

4. We enjoy … for picnics.

a. to going

b. to go

c. go

d. going

5. Don’t forget … me before you leave.

a. wake

b. waking

c. to wake

d. to waking

6. You are not allowed … here

a. smoking

b. to smoke

c. smoke

d. to smoking

7. I hate … for exams.

a. to be preparing

b. preparing

c. prepare

d. to have prepared

8. They went on … though it was late.

a. to work

b. to have worked

c. working

d. to working

9. I was made … .

a. to leave

b. leaving

c. leave

d. to leaving

10. Taking the job will mean … to Detroit.

a. to move

b. move

c. moving

d. to moving

11. Jack always stopped … the oil level in the engine.

a. to have checked

b. checking

c. to checking

d. to check

12. If you don’t make him … his homework, I will!

a. to do

b. do

c. doing

d. to do

13. Jill felt something … her on the shoulder.

a. to touch

b. touches

c. to touching

d. touch

14. Jennie had never heard him … before.

a. to complain

b. complained

c. to complaining

d. complain

15. I want him … to the party.

a. invite

b. be invited

c. inviting

d. to be invited

16. You can’t expect anyone … it at once.

a. to do

b. doing

c. having done

d. to doing

17. They suggested … back to Mike’s house.

a. to go

b. go

c. to going

d. going

18. This summer we look forward … prices for gasoline.

a. to decrease

b. decrease

c. decreasing

d. to decreasing

19. Mary didn’t succeed in … things easily.

a. taking

b. taken

c. having taken

d. being taken

20. I … nights and I like it.

a. used to working

b. got used to work

c. didn’t use to work

d. am used to working