Text 2. Methods of generating electricity

Task 1. Read the following words and remember them:

charge - заряд, зарядка; triboelectric effect - трибоэлектрический эффект(связан с трением); lightning - молния; alternator - генератор переменного тока; loop - контур, петля, виток; solar cell - солнечный фотоэлемент; thermocouple - термопара, термоэлемент; thermopile - термоэлектрическая батарея, термоэлемент; thermionic converter - термоэлектронный преобразователь; strain - усилие, напряжение; decay - распад, разрушение, уменьшение; steam turbine - паровая турбина.

Task 2. Read the text and try to understand it.

There are seven fundamental methods of directly transforming other forms of energy into electrical energy:

- static electricity from the physical separation and transport of charge (examples: triboelectric effect and lightning);

- electromagnetic induction, where an electrical generator, dynamo or alternator transforms kinetic energy (energy of motion) into electricity. This is the most used form for generating electricity and is based on Faraday's law. It can be experimented by simply rotating a magnet within closed loops of a conducting material (e.g. copper wire);

- electrochemistry (the direct transformation of chemical energy into electricity, as in a battery);

- photoelectric effect (the transformation of light into electrical energy, as in solar cells);

- thermoelectric effect (the direct conversion of temperature differences to electricity, as in thermocouples, thermopiles, and thermionic converters);

- piezoelectric effect (from the mechanical strain of electrically anisotropic molecules or crystals);

- nuclear transformation (the creation and acceleration of charged particles).

Static electricity was the first form discovered and investigated, and the electrostatic generator is still used even in modern devices. Charge carriers are separated and physically transported to a position of increased electric potential.

Almost all commercial electrical generation is done using electromagnetic induction, in which mechanical energy forces an electrical generator to rotate. There are many different methods of developing the mechanical energy, including heat engines, hydro, wind and tidal power.

The direct conversion of nuclear potential energy to electricity by beta decay is used only on a small scale. In a full-size nuclear power plant, the heat of a nuclear reaction is used to run a heat engine. This drives a generator, which converts mechanical energy into electricity by magnetic induction.

Most electric generation is driven by heat engines. The combustion of fossil fuels supplies most of the heat to these engines, with a significant fraction from nuclear fission and some from renewable sources. The modern steam turbine currently generates about 80% of the electric power in the world using a variety of heat sources.

Task 3. Find English equivalents for the following words and expressions:

проводниковый материал(проводник); медная проволока; создание и ускорение заряженных частиц; вращаться; тепловые машины; энергия прилива и отлива; в малом масштабе; управлять тепловой машиной; значительная доля(часть); возобновляемые источники.

Task 4. Answer the following questions:

1) What are fundamental methods of directly transforming other forms of energy into electrical one? 2) Which method deals with transforming energy of motion into electricity? 3) How do we call the effect of direct conversion of temperature differences to electricity? 4) What form of electricity was discovered and investigated the first? 5) How much electric power does the modern steam turbine generate?