Technical English

Department of Electrical Engineering

University Larbi Tebessi, Tebessa, Algeria

THE EFFECTS OF AN ELECTRIC CURRENT

The effects of an electric current are thermal, luminous, chemical and magnetic. When a current
flows through a conductor it may heat the conductor. This heat is sometimes undesirable and has to be
reduced. For this reason many electric motors and generators contain a fan. However, domestic
appliances, such as electric cookers, and many industrial processes depend on the heating effect of an
electric current.

The passage of a current may produce light. This can happen in a number of ways. The heat
generated by the current may be so great that the conductor becomes incandescent. For example, the
filament of a light bulb emits intense white light when heated by a current. Light is also produced
when a current ionizes a gas. The color of the light will vary according to the gas used. Mercury vapor
lamps give a greenish-blue light.

An electric current can separate a chemical compound into its components. This is called
electrolysis. Chlorine is generated by the electrolysis of salt water. Electrolysis can also be used to
break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. Because pure water does not conduct well, Sulphuric
acid has to be added before the electrolysis takes place.

A current flowing through a conductor creates a magnetic field around it. This field has three
applications. It can magnetize magnetic materials and attract them to the conductor. The electric relay
works on this principle. If the magnetic field is cut by another conductor, an electromotive force will
be induced in that conductor. For instance, the change in current flowing through the primary of a
transformer will induce a current in the secondary. This principle is also used in generators. Thirdly, if
a current-carrying conductor is placed in the magnetic field, a force will be exerted on it. This effect is
utilized in the electric motor.

TERMINOLOGY:

Heating effect: When an electric current is passed through a conductor, the conductor becomes hot
after some time and produce heat. This happens due to the conversion of some electric energy passing
through the conductor into heat energy.

READING: Read the text

1. What cause electrical and electric effects?

2. What is electrolysis?
3. Explain the meaning of the underlined words.
4. Cite three examples of conductors of electricity
5. From the text, give three applications of the magnetic field.

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2023/2024
Technical English
Department of Electrical Engineering
University Larbi Tebessi, Tebessa, Algeria

GRAMMER:

1. all
Sometimes „all‟ begins a sentence that is negative in nature. A better construction is to begin with
„no/none‟.

All the users do not operate this device regularly. ✗

None of the users operate this device regularly. ✓
Another issue is when the writer actually means „only some‟. For this, „not all‟ can be used.
All of the services do not run in synchronization. ✗
Not all of the services run in synchronization. ✓
For negation use „any‟ not „all‟ to mean none. In the sentence below „all‟ would imply that it still
worked on some of the systems.

This does not work on all (any) of the systems.

2. Another/Other
For countable nouns use the terms in the following way:
another – singular (one other; a further) other – plural (some other; further)
Other (Another) study has focused on the shortcomings of the traditional hierarchical…

Another (Other) studies have focused on the shortcomings of…

3. Good/Well
good – adjective well – adverb (can also be an adjective meaning „healthy‟)
„good‟ is mainly used with nouns and comes before the noun.
This policy strikes a well (good) balance between reliability and energy cost.
So if you are describing a noun use „good‟. „well‟ often describes a verb or adjective.
They performed the task good (well). Some of these policies have been well developed.

4. Less/Fewer
Fewer – not as many. less – not as much
 Use fewer for countable nouns:
There are less (fewer) design constraints...
 Use less with uncountable nouns: We noted less evidence of this.

5. Such Never follow „such‟ with a number. Such one example is…
 Use an indefinite article if the noun is singular and countable. Such an example is useful for
explaining this.
But not if the noun is plural or uncountable: Such evidence will help to explain why...
Used with a noun in this way „such‟ means „this/that type of‟.

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2023/2024