I Exptaininghowtechnologyworks

6a ln pairs, look at the picture and discuss the following questions.

o How do you think a space elevatorwould work?
. What could it be used for?
. What technicalchallengeswould it face?
o How seriouslydo you think the conceptof space elevatorsis
being taken at present?

b Read the following article and compare it to your answers in

Exercise 6a.

lN his 1979 novel,Ihe Fountainsof Paradise,ArthurC ÍorexpIosiveand environmentaIly unÍriend|y rockets.

Clarke wroteabout an elevatorconnecting the earth's
surfaceto space. Threedecades later,this science-
fictionconcept is preparingto take otf in the realworld.
NASA has launchedthe Space ElevatorChallenge,a
competitionwitha generousprizefund,and severalteams
and companiesare workingon seriousresearchprojects
aimedat winningit.
As its name suggests,a space elevatoris designedto
componentsÍorspace
Íaise things intospace' Sate||ites,
ships, supp|iesÍorastronautstn space stations,and
even astronautsthemselvesare examplesof payloads
thatcou|d be tÍansportedjntoorbitwithoutthe need
However,the altitudeof orbitalspace - a colossal35,790
km above the earth- is a measureof the challengefacing
engineers.How could such a heightbe reached?
The answeris by using an incrediblystrongand
lightweight cable, strongenoughto support its own
weightand a heavy|oad'The design oÍsuch a cab|eis
stilllargelytheoretical.
This would be attached to a base
stationon earthat one end and a satellitein geostationary
orbit(lixedabove a pointon the equator)at the other.Lift
vehicleswould then ascend and descend the cable,
powered by e|ectromagnetic Íorceand control|ed
remotelv.

C Match the verbs (l -9) from the text in Exercise 6b to the definitions (a-i).
1 connecting a carried (objects, over a distance)
2 raise b hotdsomethingfirmty/ bearits weight
3 transpoÉed c climb down
4 support d providedwith energy/ moved by a force
5 attached e joining
6 ascend f driven / have movementdirected
7 descend g fixed
8 powered h ctimbup
9 controlled i tift / makesomething go up

7a James, an engineer, Space Elevgfors

is giving a talk on
qble is signiícont.
space elevators. o To (2) - its own weighf, ond be securely (3) _________ o.!
Complete his notes
each end, cable would need phenomenal strenqth_to_weight ratio.
using the correct _
. How could vehicles be (4) _
form of the verbs into cable?
(l-7) in Exercise . Self-containe4 sltergv source problemotic, due to
weight (heavy fuel ol
6c. _ batferies required
c u to (5)
tu \)/ _^) L^ l\
vehic
I
Venlcle.).
r r \

c Two possible ways round problem:

_*:yt.l"r:,r,ry -,r"l. ut fechnique only ot research stage.

z , ' o l a rp o w e r . B u tw o u l d otuffio*ty.
""ty Not
as cor could bu ,ortrollJ
Yllg_!. ,t:
y:tt::!!:fblem, ,u,rotnly-tb-kq ft f"
.! _-
( // _
t-1\
payloads unmonned.

Unit 1 Technology
in use
I technicaladvantages
Emphasising

OTISf,,ioJl
10 ln pairs, discuss the term technical advantage'
Give some examples of technology you are
familiar with.

77a Read the first ParagraPh of some

promotional literature from Otis, a leading
elevator company. What is the Gen2" system?

b tvtatctrthe words (l -6) from the text in At theheartof theGen2ruelevatorsystem

Exercisel l a to the sYnonYms(a-0' is a Í|atbe|t(deveIoped byandunique to
Otis).lt is lust3mmthick.Yetit is stronger
1 conventional
- a decreases
thanconventional steelcables.lt lastsup
2 eliminates b better / the best
\ to threetimeslonger. Andit hasenabled
3 superior \ c improved theelevator' The
Otisto completely re-invent
4 energy-efficient\ d standard,usual eliminates
flat,coated-steel belttotally
5 enhanced e gets rid of effectof conventional
themetal{o-metal
6 reduces f has low energYconsumPtion Coupled a smooth-surface
with
systems.
crowned machine sheave, theresultis
Completethe followingtext usingthe correct exceptionally quietoperationandsuperior
form of the words (1-6) in Exercise I I b' You ridecomfort. Furthermore,theÍ|exib|e Ílat
will need to use some words more than once' beltenables a morecompact, energy-
eÍficient machine,whichcanbecontained
inthehoistwaY. This
enhancedtechnologY
reducesbuilding and
system operatingcosts,
andfreesupvaluable
space.

nar ,,0;;;;;;m
::p;ff:Y berts,
pu,.r'
inth.";ffi;,T#.
ilHlillililiuing
tliiltiügl;;:öm#
H,
Hli.űJ
.d;É,x
.uto*ti,u [J,üi Jff
jnl'iff{ljil'
rrvt.-t.,
tffi ,.?ffil il ;1,.'n
?jJ;:ll'''
ffi ;;:í':fi
matntenance
personnel

;*;-ff ilT
for

sYstem
that1a)- -
ih. *.d fr_
;.
;:T*il i.# ;lnom
lTili,',liT;,:,,':lT ica
r

system. Discuss
d In pairs, summarise the advantages of the flat belt
automation'
durability, wear, noise, space' cleanliness' efficiency'
maintenance and cost.

10 in use
Unit 1 TechnologY
I Specifyingand describingproperties
8a In pairs, discuss what you know about the properties of Kevlar@and how it
is used.

b Read the following extract from DuPont'"'s technical guide to Kevlar@.

Compare the information with your ideas from Exercise 8a.

\^/HATIS KEVLAR,@?
DtrPontÍl'1KEVLAB@is an orgarricfiber
in the arornaiicpolyanridefanri{y.
The
lunique propertiesand distinctchemical
Co|-1pos|Llonot KEVLÁRe distingtrisn
tllan nlade
it Íromothercot-,rtllercia]'
Íibers'

KEVLAR@has a uniqueconrbination
of l'rrgh
nroduius, toughness, abrasion
resrstance stabilty.lt r,vas
ar'crIlrernral
developedfor der-nanciing industrial
arldadvanced-technology applrcations.
Currently. rrany types of KEVLAR@ are
procluced to rrreeTa oroadrirngeof end
usesthatrequirestrong,ltghtwerght.
cltirablerraterials.
CopyrightDuPontde Nemours

DuPont"andKevtar@
areregistered of E.I.duPontde Nemours
or trademarks
trademarks or its affitiates
Company

Find words in the text in Exercise 8b to match the following definitions.

1 foraghness : the opposite of fragility
2 - : resistanceto damage caused by friction
3-:reS|Stancetoproblemscausedbytemperaturechange
4 -: long-lasting
5 - : the opposite of heavy

9a Match the automotive parts (l -5) to the descriptions (a-e).

t drivebelts a sheetsinsertedbetweenpartsto preventgasor fluid leakage
2 brakepads b pneumatic envelopesin contactwiththe roadsurface
3 tyres c flexiblebandsusedin transmissionsystems
4 sealinggaskets d protective gunshots
capableof resisting
barriers
armour
5 butlet-resistant e padspressed againstdiscsto inducedeceteration

Read the information from DuPont'uon the following page explaining some
of the automotive applications of Kevlar@.Complete the text using the
automotive parts in Exercise 9a.

18 Unit 2 Materiatstechnology
 I

(1)-
Car and trr-rck haverncorporated allolvthernto lastloi'rgand stop the rrelricle
Kevlar@intotheirconstruction
becauseit offers saÍe|y and qrtietly.
J<ur frrnco r l _v r n
p ru lr t lavi r( u r roa . oe h
u rl o
r corlnu' l O rU lHOl 'g)l)iOl !8, Kev|ar@providesan eÍÍectlrle' 1ightweight
T h e h r g h| n o d U I U aS n c ja b Í a S | o lrle s | S t a l l c o
ef (4)- for r.'ehrcies
solutiorr thatrequrre
Kevlar@ help (2) retaintheir or ginal protectionagains{ballisticattack.allowingcars
c,h:np an.l lprrcrnn n\/Ar lhe tTlrllrgpt Ot and lighttrucksto retainmost of theiroriginal
revolrrt,crrts
tlteuno througnoverlhe litespano{ handiingcharacteristics.
a venrcte. C h e r n r c .srtl a i l i i i ta\1 o l l r e !! a ' s l a D , l ' ir)e i o
The frictiona| Íorcesthat(3)- are designed make(5) reinÍorced with Keviar@pulp
t o e n d u r et a k el e s so f a t o l lo r rt l \ o s en ' d d ew r t i r strongancjdurable.The gaivaniccorrosion
Kerrlar@ pulp.The enhancedthernralstability resrstance of Kevlar'@ also contributesto
and inherentabrasionresistanceof KevlariS irnprovediong ternrengrneperfonrance.

ln pairs, discuss why the properties of Kevlar@are especially important for

each application described in the text.

)Z.q Listen to a conversation about the properties of materials used in a

specific type of tool and answer the following questions.
1 Where does the conversationtake place?
2 What tool is being discussed?
3 Which materialscan be used for its differentoarts?

Complete the following extracts from the conversation using the properties
in Exercise 8c. Listen again and check your answers.
1 The handle mustn't be heavy.ldeallg, Aou wont it to be
2 Resistingfrictionis essential.The keg requirementis-
5 The bur has to be built to last. Obviouslg, theg need to be verg
4 Heat builds up in the bur. You need o good degree of -

Match the words and phrases ( | -5) from Exercise | 0b to the synonyms
(a-e).

1 ideal.ty a iís clearthat

2 obviously b for the bestresults
3 the lastthingyouwant c the mostimportant fuctor
4 the keyrequirement d a lot ofl a hightevelof
5 a gooddegreeof e the worstsituation

a You work for a manufacturer of .,-\

Harprme's a! Joi're"s' hatmme's (tov rattls)
hand tools and have ;;;';;n* a
ro)Ltau'rphatwrmets(fov uaatsorrvy chisels)
investigate using alternative materials
- -
in your products. ln pui.., ."uá tr'" Co\siáev the harr"rmerheotA at\A the harmwrevshart|.
notes and discuss the main properties Satws a| Wooá Sarws(€ o v cta|tirrgwooá)
required of the materials used to make b) Harcksarws(fov craffirrg uaetatl)
the too|s. Coqsiáev |he satwb|oA,e aúO,|v\e sarwhatr,táleo" €varrre.
Think of a product you know well.
ln pairs, discuss the materials used in it and what properties make the
materials suitable. Discuss whether alternative materials could be used.

Unit 2 Materiatstechnology 79