Electricity and electronics

“Atomic Age” is the name often applied to the period in which we live. It is also frequently referred to as the “Air Age”. These terms emphasize the importance of science and invention in our time. But we can speak of an age that has prepared the way for these and includes them all — the “Age of Electricity and Electronics."

From the remarkable achievements of nuclear science and the noticeable progress in aviation to the innumerable discoveries that have added comfort and convenience to our daily lives, we are constantly dependent upon electricity and electronics.

It is very difficult to separate the meaning of the two words "electricity" and "electronics". The field of electricity is usually thought of as electricity that is used in magnets, generators, motors, lights and heaters.

The field of electronics is usually thought of as electricity that is used in radio, television, and other equipment where electron tubes and transistors are needed.

Basically electronics is not so much a new subject as a new way of looking at electricity. All electrical effects are really electronic because all electric currents result from the movements of electrons, and all electric charges are due to the accumulation of electrons.

Electronics is the science or practice of using electricity in devices similar to radio tubes so as to get results not possible with ordinary electrical equipment.

Although electronics has received greater attention in recent years, we have been using electronic equipment for half of a century. Radio, television, sound pictures, fluorescent lighting and long-distance telephone calls owe their existence to electronics. As most of these familiar equipments serve to carry or give information one may say that communication has been the major purpose of electronics.

Electronics is closely connected with a series of discoveries and inventions which have revolutionized the life of man in this twentieth century. In 1883 Thomas A. Edison discovered current conduction through gas in an incandescent lamp. This phenomenon known as the Edison effect marked the birth of electronic science. The Edison effect was followed by the discoveries of electromagnetic waves, X-rays, wireless communication and at last by the invention of the two-electrode detector or the "valve". These basic discoveries and a lot of others have produced what is known as electronics.

Nothing can be done in modern research laboratory without the aid of electricity and electronics. Nearly all of the measuring devices used in industry and research are electrically operated. Electronics has found broad application in industry as a means of automation, control and inspection, and as a direct means of fulfilling such operations as melting, cutting of super hard materials and welding.

**Task IX. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the name of the period in which we live?

2. Why are we constantly dependent upon electricity and electronics?

3. Is it easy to separate the meaning of the words "electricity" and "electronics"?

4. How long have we been using electronics equipment?

5. What has been the major purpose of electronics?

6. What is electronics closely connected with?

7. What is known as the Edison effect?

8. How are all of the measuring devices operated?

9What application has eletronics found in industry?

**Task X. Be ready to define the Tenses in the text.

*Task I. Supply Modal Verbs or equivalents in the correct forms.

1 We ... to go to the plant with Mr. Brown this Monday, but he hasn't arrived in Kyiv yet. We ... to go to the plant next week. 2. There is no stop near this building, you ... to get off at the next stop. 3. These things are not duty-free. You ... .to pay duty on them. 4. If you don't leave now, you ... not to come to the concert on time. 5. When... the Sellers to deliver the goods? 6. We... to reserve accommodation for Mr. Brown tomorrow. 7. As the Buyer ... not provide shipping facilities the Seller... to deliver the goods on GIF terms.

**Task II. Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the Modal Verbs with Perfect Infinitive.

1. Anyone watching the space flights of our astronauts must have been impressed by the information available at ground stations, even without any word from the astronaut; this is possible due to telemetry. 2. You should have bought a new transistorized TV set — it is fully portable as it does not depend on the a. c. line as a source of power. 3. The designer could have introduced some changes in the cathode-ray tube to improve the TV set. 4. The circuit of the TV set must have been improved, that is why the picture is much better. 5. The radio set may have been plugged in the wrong way, therefore there is nothing happening. 6. You must have bought a new radio set, I have not seen it before.

*Task III. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the Modal Verbs.

1. A radio engineer must know the principles of TV and radar equipment operation. 2. Every scientist, every researcher must have some idea of what an electronic computer is. 3. The lab assistant can and must show the students how to carry on the experiments. 4. By means of radio and television extra-mural students may get all the necessary information from the consultation centre of the correspondence institute. 5. You must practice your English. 6. The reporter may be late for 10-15 minutes as he must finish his experiment. 7. May I enter the lab?