Test 9

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC CURRENT?
The question is often asked: "What is an electric current?" No one has ever seen it. We only know of the
existence of a current owing to its effects. A current can heat a conductor, it can have a chemical action when
passing through a solution, or it can produce a magnetic effect. We can measure currents by observing their heating,
chemical or magnetic effects. The practical unit of current is called the Ampere.
Two things are necessary to cause an electric current to flow: first a complete circuit, and second, a driving
force called the electromotive force (e. m. f.).
If you put free electrons on an insulated copper ball, what would they do? In this case they would try to repel
each other. In case you connected this charged ball to another ball of equal size by a copper wire, what would be the
result? The electrons would move along the copper wire until the number of electrons on each ball were the same.
This is an example of electromotive force causing a current to flow.
A battery has a surplus ^of electrons on one of its two plates; so you say that a battery furnishes an e. m. f. If a
copper wire is run from one plate to the other, a current flows in the complete circuit thus made. If a small bulb is
placed in the circuit, it will light up, giving evidence to a current flow. If the battery were disconnected and a
generator substituted for it, we should have a typical lighting system. Both batteries and gen erators are the most
common sources of electromotive force. The practical unit of e. m. f. is the Volt.
Currents will flow more readily in some substances than in others, that is, various substances offer lesser or
greater resistance to the flow of current. Such substances as porcelain, ebonite, rubber, glass and the like having
extremely high resistance are known as insulators. The practical unit of resistance is the Ohm.
Substances whose properties lie between those of conductors and insulators are called semiconductors. Let us
name but a few most widely used at present, they are germanium, silicon, selenium and copper oxide. The
importance of semiconductors in our life cannot be overestimated. But for these tiny "workhorses" electronic
industry would not have achieved such a great progress.

Task2. :

1. What is the unit of current?

2. What can an electric current do?
3. What is necessary to cause an electric current to flow?
4. What are the most common sources of electromotive force?
5. How does current flow in various substances?
6. What is the unit of resistance?
7. What substances do we call insulators?
8. What semiconductors do you know?
 Grammar Test.
I. , .

1. To train highly qualified scientific workers is extremely important for the

development of science.
2. Our task is to obtain a new mixture with new properties.
3. The engineer was asked to design a transistor device which will regulate the
temperature in the laboratory.
4. In order to break this glass a great amount of force must be applied.
5. The process to be analysed in this article is known as ionization.

II. , FOR

1. It isnt for me to say so.

2. The unusual phenomenon occupied the scientists thoughts for some weeks.
3. I stood aside for us to pass it.
4. I have arranged for you to have a private room.
5. Einstein always answered all students questions, for there were no foolish or simple
questions for him.
III. .

1. The mother looked at her children with love.

2. The trees in the garden were green.

IV. , ing .

1. The Earth and the Moon travel together making a complete trip around the Sun once a
year.
2. Besides using optical telescopes scientists are extensively employing radio telescopes,
which are huge antennae, constantly listening to the radio signals corning from our distant
neighbours in the universe.
3. Astronomers determine the mass of the Sun by calculating its effects on the Earth.
4. Knowing how to detect radio signals emitted by the Sun and other heavenly bodies people
can greatly enlarge their possibilities of observing the universe.
2. The night sky radiation prevents the astronomer from seeing the most distant objects.

V. .