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Current moves from a point of high potential energy to one of low potential. It
can only do so if there is a path for it to follow. This path is called an electrical
circuit. All circuits contain four elements: a source, a load, a transmission
system and a control.
The source provides the electromotive force. This establishes the difference in
potential which makes the current to flow possible. The source can be any
devices which supplies electrical energy. For example, it may be a generator or a
battery.
The load converts the electrical energy from the source into some other form of
energy. For instance, a lamp changes electrical energy into light and heat. The
load can be any electrical device.
The transmission system conducts the current round the circuit. Any conductor
can be part of a transmitting system. Most systems consist of wires. It is often
possible, however, for the metal frame of a unit to be one section of its
transmission system. For example, the metal chassis of many electric devices are
used to conduct current. Similarly, the body of a car is part of its electrical
transmission system.
The control regulates the current flow in the circuit. It may control the current
by limiting it, as does a rheostat, or by interrupting it, as does a switch.
Study figure 2.1. In this simple flashlight circuit, the source comprises three
1.5V cells in series. The load is a 0.3 W bulb. Part of transmission system is the
metal body of the flashlight, and the control is a sliding switch.
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Compare figure 2.2. The function of this circuit is to operate a television camera
aboard a space satellite. Here the source is a battery of solar cells. A solar cell is
an electric cell which converts sun light into energy. The load is the television
camera. The transmission system is the connecting wires. The control is a relay
actuated bys transmissions from ground control. Although the function of this
circuit is much more complex than that of the flashlight, it too consists of the
four basic elements.
Exercise 1: Rephrasing
Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the words in italics with expressions
from the passage which has a similar meaning.
1. Current moves from a point of high potential energy to one of low potential.
(line 1)
A- Current.
B- Energy
C- A point
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2. For example, it may be a generator or a battery. (line 7)
A- The source
B- A device
C- Electromotive force
3. It is often possible, however, for the metal frame of a unit to be one section of
its transmission system. (line 13)
B- The unit’s
C- The circuit’s
4. Although the function of this circuit is much more complex than that of the
flashlight, it too consists of the four elements. (line 27)
A- This circuit
B- The function
C- The flashlight
Decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F). Quote from the passage to
support your decisions.
1. Describing function
When we answer the question what does it do? We describe the function of It.
Example:
Now identify and explain the function of each component with help of this list.
2. Describing purpose
When we answer the question What is it for?, we describe the purpose of It.
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Example:
Now describe the purpose of these instruments and tools using any of the
structures presented above.
1. a voltmeter 6. wire-clippers
2. a soldering iron 7. a mega-ohmmeter
3. a milli-ammeter 8. an ohmmeter
4. an oscilloscope 9. a signal generator
5. a heat sink 10. a battery charger
Sentence 1 means that only armoured cables were undamaged. Other cables, for
example PVC coated cables, were damaged. The relative clause is a defining
one. It defines the type of cable which was undamaged. It carries essential
information.
Sentence 2 means that all the cables were undamaged and all the cables were
armoured. The relative clause is a non-defining one. It adds extra information to
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the sentence still makes good sense. It is separated from the rest of the sentence
by commas.
One use of defining relative clauses is to make definition. Study this diagram.
We can make a definition of a solar cell by joining (a), (b) and (c).
A solar cell is an electric cell which converts sunlight into electrical energy.
Now make eight definitions using information in this table. You must decide the
correct combinations of (A), (B) and (C).
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5. Describing component values
Identify the following components in the circuit of the amplifier and wire out
their value in full
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III. Further reading
Electric circuits
You might have been wondering how electrons can continuously flow in a
uniform direction through wires without the benefit of these hypothetical
electron Sources and Destinations. In order for the Source-and-Destination
scheme to work, both would have to have an infinite capacity for electrons in
order to sustain a continuous flow! Using the marble-and-tube analogy, the
marble source and marble destination buckets would have to be infinitely large
to contain enough marble capacity for a "flow" of marbles to be sustained.
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means to support a uniform flow of electrons without having to resort to infinite
Sources and Destinations: Each electron advancing clockwise in this circuit
pushes on the one in front of it, which pushes on the one in front of it, and so on,
and so on, just like a hula-hoop filled with marbles. Now, we have the capability
of supporting a continuous flow of electrons indefinitely without the need for
infinite electron supplies and dumps. All we need to maintain this flow is a
continuous means of motivation for those electrons, which we'll address in the
next section of this chapter.
An important principle to realize here is that it doesn't matter where the break
occurs. Any discontinuity in the circuit will prevent electron flow throughout the
entire circuit. Unless there is a continuous, unbroken loop of
conductive material for electrons to flow through, a sustained flow simply
cannot be maintained.
• REVIEW:
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Unit 3
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
I. Reading and comprehension
When free electrons are dislodged from the atoms, electrical energy is
released and made available to do work. Chemical reaction, friction, heat and
electromagnetic induction will cause electrons to move from one atom to
another. Scientists proved electrical energy to be released from matter by
chemical reaction (batteries), heat (thermocouples), electromagnetic induction
(generators), and friction (static generators). Whenever energy in any form is
released, a force is developed. Electrical energy being released, a force called
electromotive force (e.m.f) is developed. And e.m.f is present, then, whenever
free electrons are moved from atoms, any of the above named methods being
used to produce such electron motion.
If the force exerts its effort always in one direction, it is called direct; the
force changing its direction of exertion periodically is referred to as alternating.
The chemical reaction in a dry cell produces a negative charge or potential
on the zinc. This charge being always negative, the e.m.f is unidirectional (one
way). Heat and friction, too are sources of a unidirectional force.
Electromagnetic induction, however, is certain to produce an alternating force.
If the south of a bar magnet (see the figure 1) is passed into a coil of wire
connected to a force-measuring instrument (voltmeter), the meter needle will
move in one direction. If the south pole of the magnet is withdrawn from the coil,
the needle will move toward the opposite side of the meter, thus showing the
force to be alternating. The direction of force effort is seen to be dependent upon
the direction in which the field is cut. The magnitude of the electrical force
depends on the conditions at the source, such as the number of magnetic lines of
force per unit of time.
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In the battery, the determining factors are kinds of electrolytes and the kind
of the metals to be used for the plates. The common dry cell is found to develop
1.5 volts of electrical force regardless of the size of the cell. Large amounts of
force can be obtained only by putting many cells in series.
The force developed by the generator depends on the number of coils in the
armature, on the speed of the armature, and on the strength of the magnetic field
from the field magnets, i.e., the number of lines of magnetic force cut by a coil
per second. The volt is known to be the unit of measure for electrical force.
Wherever an e.m.f is developed, there is also a field of energy called an
electrostatic field. This field can be detected by an electroscope, the strength
being measured by an electrometer.
2. New words:
dislodge // - tách khỏi
thermocouple / – cặp nhiệt điện
induction / – sự cảm ứng
e.m.f – electromotive force / – sức điện động
certain /- chắc chắn
alternating / - xoay chiều
withdrawn / - rút ra
cell / – 01 đơn vị pin hoặc ắc quy
zinc / – kẽm
unidirectional / – đơn cực, một chiều
bar magnet / – thanh nam châm
coil / – cuộn dây
needle / – cái kim (đồng hồ đo)
armature / – phần ứng
meter / – dụng cụ đo (đồng hồ)
plate / – bản, tấm
in series / – nối tiếp
exertion / - tác động
3. Read the words of the text and make 3 sentences:
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measure, methods, heat, friction, obtain, electrolyte, source, figure, south,
field, however, exertion.
4. Find synonyms in the text the following words:
to make, substance, to name, force, to indicate, movement, to receive,
amount, since, usual, to apply, velocity, dimension, to define.
5. Give the English equivalents in the following words:
phụ thuộc vào, lực, trong điều kiện đó, trong một đơn vị thời gian, bất cứ khi nào,
bất cứ nơi nào, có sẵn, ở trên, về phía, lớn hơn
6. Translate following sentences from English into Vietnamese:
1. A compensator allows the motor to take an excess current without putting
a heavy overload on the mains.
2. We know water to flow with less resistance in a large pipe than in one of small
section.
3. If we double the force pushing the electrons around the circuit, we expect them
to move twice as fast, all other things being equal.
4. To produce a current of one ampere in a copper wire one millimeter in
diameter we need that the average velocity of the electrons be only about 0.01 cm
per second.
5. The only way to stop or control the anode current is to decrease or remove the
anode voltage.
6. When the temperature becomes high enough for the atoms to evaporate, the
material or solid that they compose rapidly disintegrates.
7. A conducting material allows a continuous current to pass through it under the
action of a continuous e.m.f.
8. To measure current we use an ammeter connected in series with the resistance.
9. The action of an e.m.f causes electrons to move in some definite direction.
10. To break the electron loose from its atom the force tending to move it is not
sufficient.
7. Discuss one of the following topics:
1. Different methods of releasing electrical energy from matter.
2. The development of the electromotive force.
3. The direction of the e.m.f.
4. Batteries as a source of electrical energy.
5. The force developed by the generator.
6. The electrostatic field.
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Unit 4
Being heated a magnet loses some or all of its magnetism. A magnet being
broken in two, each piece becomes a magnet with its own pair of poles. This
iron, a molecule. Conversely, two identical bar magnets being brought end to end
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with opposite poles in close contact, the poles touching seem to disappear and we
have but two poles at the extreme ends. A tube of iron filings may be magnetized
by stroking it with a magnet in the usual way. The filings being shaken, the
magnetism disappears.
These facts give rise to the very plausible theory of magnetism generally
accepted. We know iron molecules to be magnets at all times. When they are
arranged in a bar of steel or iron so that the fields of force of all or most of the
molecules are in the same direction, their fields are added to one another and the
bar is a magnet. The little magnet molecules form chains, their poles
disappearing except at the ends of the chain. This condition is not an equilibrium
condition because of the like poles in adjacent chains repelling each other. The
rigidity of steel holds the molecules in this position. In soft iron, however, as
soon as we take the bar out of the magnetizing field, the molecules adjust
chains, leaving the iron un-magnetized. We can see why hard steel makes
We can also explain why soft iron has a higher permeability than steel.
When placed in a magnetic field, the molecules of steel do not readily turn
around in the direction of the lines of force. But this alignment is necessary if the
1. New words:
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bar magnet – thanh nam châm
repel – đẩy
at hand, in point;
thanks to, due to, owing to, because of, on account of, by virtue of.
3. Find in the text the following words antonyms. Make deals with them:
unlike.
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4. Examine the use and meaning of the word take in various combinations.
depending on the area of the surface, whereas fission action takes place
2. The varying current from the television takes the place of the voice currents
3. The discovery of the atomic battery may take its place alongside with nuclear
4. Many radio amateurs take advantage of radio transmitters with one vacuum
tube only.
5. It would take 100 million of small thimble sized atomic batteries to produce
enough electricity to light a 100-walt bulb, but its discovery is a very important
one.
6. In atomic power plants special safety precautions must be taken to protect the
7. It will take not very much time to see the widespread use of semiconductors in
every-day life.
identical bar magnets are brought end to end with opposite poles in close
contact?
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2. When does a bar become a magnet?
4. Why does hard steel make permanent magnets and why has soft iron a higher
ELECTROMAGNETISM
Student: In this case the needle would tend to place itself at right angles to the
conductor.
Student: This indicates that a field about the conductor is reacting upon the field
Student: We know the magnetic lines of force to tend not to cross over each
other. That’s why, the field about the conductor must be of a circular nature.
Demonstrator: All right. And how is a stronger magnetic field about the
conductor created?
Student: The conductor being wound into a coil, the fields about each tern
Student: If a piece of iron is placed in the coil, the iron will become magnetized
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Demonstrator: When would the iron be demagnetized?
Student: If the electron flow through the coil ceased, the magnetic field would
Demonstrator: What can you say about permeability and retentivity in soft iron
and steel?
Student: Well, the soft iron has high permeability and low retentivity, while steel
Demonstrator: -------------------------------------!!!
permeability – độ từ thẩm
retentivity – từ dư
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Unit 5
1. Read the text and highlight the main themes of the narrative
HISTORY OF ELECTRONICS
definition covers the whole complex family of vacuum and gaseous electron
rectifiers and the transistors which utilize the control of electrons or positive
Electronics was born in the 19-th century. Like hydrolysis chemistry it has
come into its own only recently. Electronics first established itself, however, in
gauging, counting, heating, speed regulation, etc. But in a larger field, electronics
Today, electronics has started a new era. Electronics devices are doing
robots. Automation is the industrial keynote of the day. Planes and rockets are
waves from outer space. Shortly speaking, electronics is not so much a new
2. New words:
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semiconductor – bán dẫn
hole – lỗ trống
has come into its own – nó nhận được (có được) một vị trí xứng đáng
3. Read the following questions, get answers to them in the text and read
aloud:
1. What is electronics?
4. Change the sentences using the passive voice, according to the model. Pay
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4. We frequently cannot burn fuels completely.
6. Our engineers will design and construct new thermal power stations.
5. Change the proposal from the passive voice in sentences with active voice,
using a sample.
people.
5. Large atomic power stations are being constructed by the engineers in our
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Unit 6
TRANSISTORS
like this had happened in electronics since the discovery of the triode vacuum
tube in 1907; some years later radio tubes replaced the crystal detectors of the
wireless era.
Now a crystal amplifier, the transistor, challenges the vacuum tube because
transistors are smaller, simpler, more efficient, more rugged and longer lived.
Already transistors have replaced tubes in hearing aids, with unheard-of battery
economy. Moreover, many transistor circuits have fewer components than the
triode tubes.
low current device. Transistors, because of their desirable properties, shortly may
2. New word:
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unheard-of – chưa từng thấy
rugged – bền bỉ
3. Ask general questions to the following proposals and give short answers:
1. The beginnings of all science lie far back near the dawn of human history.
6. The resistivity of semiconductors will depend upon the direction of the current
flow.
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Unit 7
1. Read the text, try to understand its basic content and present what you
know about the devices, referred to herein. Did your knowledge about these
THYRISTORS
alternating N and P-type material. They act as a switch, conducting when their
gate receives a current pulse, and continue to conduct for as long as they are
forward biased (that is, as long as the voltage across the device has not reversed).
synonymous; others define SCRs as a subset of thyristors, along with gate turn-
off thyristor (GTO), triode ac switch (triac), static induction transistor (SIT),
stands out.
Non-SCR thyristors include devices with more than four layers, such as
Figure 1. Structure on the physical and electronic level, and the thyristor symbol
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The thyristor is a four-layer semiconducting device, with each layer
main terminals, labeled anode and cathode, are across the full four layers, and the
control terminal, called the gate, is attached to p-type material near to the
cathode. (A variant called a SCS - Silicon Controlled Switch brings all four
self-latching action.
blocked by a diode.
Forward blocking mode - Voltage is applied in the direction that would cause a
diode to conduct, but the thyristor has not yet been triggered into conduction.
Forward conducting mode - The thyristor has been triggered into conduction and
will remain conducting until the forward current drops below a threshold value
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Function of the gate terminal
The thyristor has three p-n junctions (serially named J1, J2, J3 from the anode).
When the anode is at a positive potential Vak with respect to the cathode
with no voltage applied at the gate, junctions J1 and J3 are forward biased, while
(Off state). Now if Vak is increased beyond the breakdown voltage VBO of the
selecting an appropriate value of VG, the thyristor can be switched into the on
state immediately.
the potential VG is removed or; b) the current through the device (anode−cathode)
These gate pulses are characterized in terms of gate trigger voltage (VGT)
and gate trigger current (IGT). Gate trigger current varies inversely with gate
pulse width in such a way that it is evident that there is a minimum gate charge
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solid-state – trạng thái rắn (thể rắn)
gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) – thyristor có thể khóa bằng cực cửa
3. Read the words and phrases and call their equivalents in Vietnamese.
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avalanche breakdown to occur irrespective
6) the course or line along which a person or thing moves, points, or lies;
responsible for all electrical phenomena, existing in two forms to which the signs
10) the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side, usually
being the shortest dimension or (for something fixed) the shortest horizontal
dimension.
5. Find synonyms in the text to the words and make sentences with them
Рroducer, to take place, gadget, carry on, to form, case, to enlarge, acceptable,
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ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Unit 8
electrical engineering.
the Medical Academy of Surgery, he was always in the course of all the
ideas and contributed much to the cause of science. His good knowledge of
Latin, English, French and German greatly helped him in doing this.
called luminescence are widely known. This problem occupied the minds of the
various bodies.
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Up to the 90-ties of the 18-th century it was only immovable distribution of
electrical charges in bodies that was known. In 1791 Luigi Galvani discovered
the electrical current, i.e., the motion of electrical charges through conductors.
Galvani was succeeded by Volta who carried out a good deal of investigations in
current and he built a gigantic voltaic pile of his own. Having constructed the
which he clearly described his battery made him an innovator in this field of
with it.
Only electrical sparks jumping between two electrodes were known before
namely – the permanent flame, setting up between two char-coals under current.
He pointed out the possibility of using the electric arc lighting. Three years
before the famous London voltaic pile was constructed, the Russian innovator
had constructed his own one having 100 Galvanic couples more than that
presented by Davy.
The electric arc discovered by Petrov became later the first source of
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this idea in his electrical lighting known abroad under the name of the “Russian
Light”.
Petrov was the first to discover the possibility of getting metals out of ores
by means of electricity. The very fact of these discoveries gives the right to call
uncommon, constant, to show, well known, pair, to reach, motion, field, to point
century.
4. Correct the sentences. Start your answer with the following expressions:
I fully agree.
I doubt it.
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If I remember rightly... Exactly so.
luminescence.
3. In the 18-th century not only distribution of electrical charges in bodies was
known.
7. In 1802 Petrov’s book was published where he clearly described his battery.
8. Galvani pointed out the possibility of using the electric arc lighting.
9. Later the electric arc discovered by Volta became the first source of electric
to deserve the right, a great number of, to draw the attention, a good deal, to put
to service.
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5. What did Petrov succeed in according to Academician Vaviliv’s conclusion?
6. What was known about the distribution of electrical charges in bodies up to the
12. What device became the first source of electric lighting put to service?
DIALOGUE
B.: The idea of electricity was known as early as about 600 years before our era.
B.: It was begun in 1600 by Dr. Gilbert who made experiments with electricity.
A.: Did Russian scientists play any part in the development of electrical science?
B.: Yes, they did. Many Russian scientists and inventors made a great
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B.: The name of Lomonosov should be mentioned first. It is he who discovered
A.: What did the Russian scientists Petrov and Yablochkov do for the
B.: Petrov V.V. discovered the electric arc that later on became the first source of
electric lighting put to service. And Yablochkov used this idea for his “candle”
A.: I see, that is why Petrov V.V. is called the pioneer of modern electrical
engineering.
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Unit 9
ALTERNATING-CURRENT GENERATORS
The generator consists of an outer frame or yoke to which are attached the
pole pieces, always even in number, about which are erected the field windings.
contain the armature coils, is mounted on bearings so that it can rotate in the
magnetic field set up by the pole pieces. One end of the armature terminates in a
pair of slip rings. These are solid brass alloy rings fixed to the armature, the
respective armature coil terminals being connected to each ring. Carbon brushes
rest upon the slip rings in order to provide the current with a path to an external
circuit.
We know the field poles to be wound with wire in such a direction that the
magnetic field strength is increased when direct current from an outside source is
between the field poles by some mechanical device. This may be a steam engine,
a gasoline engine, an electric motor or some other agency. The rotation of the
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armature upon which the armature coils are wound causes the coils to cut the
magnetic lines of force between the field poles. Inasmuch as the direction of
magnetic flux, current will flow in opposite directions in the opposite coil sides.
This occurs because during one half revolutions one side is moving up through
the field, the other side moving down through it. In the next half revolution,
however, the first side moves down through the field, while the second moves
up. It is apparent that alternating current is generated and fed through the slip
Frequency. The number of times per second the current reverses itself is
known to be its frequency and is determined by the speed of the armature and the
number of field poles. Thus a generator with two sets of field poles, whose
armature turns 1 complete revolution per second (rps), would have frequency of
2 cycles. With one set of field poles, an armature must turn 2 rps to attain the
same frequency.
2. New words:
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Unit 10
power (or energy) to mechanical power (or energy) is known to take place in the
rotating part of the machine. In the d-c motor and in one type of a-c motors, the
conduction motor. In the most common type of a-c motors electrical power is not
conducted to the rotor directly; the rotor receives its power inductively in exactly
the same way as the secondary of a transformer receives its power. It is for this
reason that motors of this type are known as induction motors. In fact, it will
stationary winding is connected to the a-c source, while the other winding,
The principle of the induction motor was first discovered in 1824, when the
compass are pivoted with their axes parallel, so that one or both of the compass
poles are located near the edge of the disk, the compass will rotate if the disk is
made to spin, or the disk will rotate if the compass is made to spin. The direction
of the induced rotation in one element is always the same as that imparted to the
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other. Such an experiment can be readily performed if a simple copper or
aluminum disk and a rather large compass are both mounted on the same vertical
stem so that each may be rotated in its own bearing independently of the other.
motor, of which there are several types. If the disk were rotated, the compass
would follow at a speed always less than that of the disk; if the compass were
relative motion between flux and conductors. Thus, if the mechanical load on the
rotor increases, the rotor slows down; this slowing down means greater relative
motion between flux and rotor, a greater voltage and current, and hence more
power to take care of the added load. In other words, the power developed by the
rotor automatically adjusts itself to the power required to drive the load.
In the actual motor, the rotor is obviously not a disk, but a well designed
field a single concentrated pole moved by hand, but an even number of poles
formed by a distributed winding in a slotted stator. The stator poles are formed
by the interaction of the fields of two or three phases, their result being the
2. New words:
41
induction motor – động cơ cảm ứng (động cơ không đồng bộ)
to pivot – xoay
relative motion – chuyển động tương đối
axe – trục
flux – từ thông
to spin – quay tròn
added load – chất tải, thêm tải
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Unit 11
TRANSFORMERS
energy into electrical energy, it being able to transform electrical energy from
each other, but wound over a common core. The core may also be of open type
or it may be merely a tube of some insulating material, the latter being referred
to as an air core.
set up around the coil will rise and fall in accordance with the e.m.f. variations
applied. This moving field cuts the turns in the secondary coil and induces an
e.m.f. therein. The value of this induced e.m.f. depends upon the strength of the
applied e.m.f. and the ratio of secondary turns to primary turns. Should there be
twice as many turns in the secondary as in the primary, the voltage in the
secondary would be twice that applied to the primary. If there were half as many
turns in the secondary, the voltage would be half that applied to the primary. This
voltage step up or step down in proportion to turn ratio will hold good for all
same proportions, and vice versa. Therefore, the power in watts supplied to the
transformer is the same as that drawn from it, assuming the transformer to be 100
per cent efficient. The copper losses, or ohmic resistance of the windings, and the
43
core losses due to induction of eddy currents in the core material, as well as
percent.
Transformers are classed according to the use they are designed for. Where
sufficiently heavy to carry the current without undue heating, and the secondary
may consist of two or more separate windings to provide various voltages from
increases, and inasmuch as this type of reactance also increases. With the
that can be efficiently used in transformers with metallic cores. Where very high
frequency alternating current is used, such as in the r-f circuits of receivers and
losses.
2. New words:
44
amperage – đo dòng điện
eddy – xoáy, eddy current - dòng điện xoáy
core losses – tổn thất lõi thép
undue – quá mức
inductive reactance – điện kháng
e.m.f. – sức điện động
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