Speaking

Fig. 1 illustrates an ammeter. Ammeter consists of such principal parts as: permanent
magnet; soft-iron core to make magnetic field more uniform; coil wound on
armature; spring; by-pass or shunt to carry most of the current; scale divided to read
in amperes. An ammeter is fitted with an armature coil rotates between the poles of a
permanent magnet; but the coil restrained by a spring is able to turn but through a
small angle. The greater the current in the coil, the greater the force and, therefore,
the greater the angle of rotation of the armature. The deflection is measured by means
of a pointer mounted on the armature, the scale under the pointer reading directly in
amperes.
As we can see in Fig. 2, a voltmeter is made up of: permanent magnet; upper control
spring; moving coil; magnetic core; lower control spring; pointer. Its action is similar
to that of an ammeter, both of them having armatures that move when an electric
current is sent through their coils. A moving coil mechanism uses a stationary
permanent magnet and a coil of very fine wire that can move in the magnetic field of
a magnet. When connected to a circuit, an electric current flows through the coil,
which in turn creates its own magnetic field, which reacts to the magnetic field
created by the permanent magnet, causing the pointer to move, which is fixed to coil.
The deflection, like that of the ammeter, is proportional to the current flowing
through the armature coil. But according to Ohm's Law we know volts to equal
amperes times ohms. Hence, the voltage is proportional to the current, and the scale
may be read directly in volts.
Writing
There are a number of electrical quantities, such as current, voltage, resistance, which
are measured in amperes, volt and ohms, respectively.
A simple measuring instrument works on the interaction between the magnet and the
current.
To measure the strength of the current flowing in an electric circuit one can use an
ammeter. The pointer attached to the armature, which rotates due to the permanent
magnet, will read off the amperes. However, a very tiny current is best detected by
means of a galvanometer.
A voltmeter is known to measure the potential difference. In ---, its operation is
similar to that of an ammeter, although it must be connected in parallel, rather than in
series, with an electric circuit.
Electric energy and power at our homes is usually measured in kilowatt-hours by
service meters, which are designed to measuring the power by the time.
 UNIT 2 Man and his machines
Reading comprehension
Read a historical overview of man's inventions in the field of transportation and
answer the following questions:
1. What are simple machines of ancient origin that are widely used in man's
activities today?
The arrow, wheel, lever.
2. How have machines changed in number and efficiency over the last
centuries?
After Aristotle there was a little change in the number and kind of machines in use
for nearly twenty centuries. Since then one new device after another has come to
displace others that were less efficient only to be displaced in turn by other devices
still faster or better.
3. How fast was a horse-drawn carriage in the 18th century?
That is a speed of about 35 miles a day.
4. What machine made it possible to exceed this speed?
In 1831 the first steam locomotive in America was put into use. The 'iron horse' soon
proved its efficiency.
5. What speed could the first "iron horses" achieve?
The speed of the first "iron horses" could exceed 35 miles an hour.
6. What do modern means of transportation need for their operation?
Modern transportation uses electricity in many ways. Without it transportation, as is
known today, could not exist.
7. How much time at the most does it take to travel a long distance in our days?
To reach any part of the world is a matter of hours or days, while a century or two
ago it took weeks, sometimes even months or years.
8. When was the public transportation established in Moscow?
Public transport was established only in the forties of the last century.
9. How many buses are in operation on the roads in Moscow today?
The first eight buses appeared in the city 70 years ago, while today there are
thousands in operation.
10.How often do the citizens of Moscow take a trip by public transport?
Every year a Muscovite makes about 800 trips in buses, trolleybuses, metro and
trams.
Grammar: p. 17, ex. 2
1. The heat of steam is transformed into useful mechanical work by engines and
turbines.
2. The world’s first 150,000-kW steam turbine was produced in the former USSR.
3. The development of power industry has been greatly favored the invention of
water turbines, generators, transformers and electric motors.
4. The efficiency of a machine will be expressed in our work in per cent.
5. The useful work had been performed the machine without any energy losses.
6. The liquid were been boiled at a fixed temperature under a given pressure.
7. The heat absorbed are being utilized to convert the water into steam for the
purpose of experimentation.