ENGINEERING AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY

Table of Contents
Teaching English in the engineering and electrotechnology industry..................................2
Weblinks for English in engineering and electrotechnology................................................5
Textbooks for English in engineering and electrotechnology..............................................7
Examples of texts to be used in lessons.............................................................................9
Engineering and electrotechnology dictionary..................................................................19

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 ENGINEERING AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY

Teaching English in the engineering and

electrotechnology industry
Engineering is a broad discipline which is often broken down into several sub-disciplines.
These disciplines concern themselves with differing areas of engineering work.
Engineering is often characterized as having four main branches: chemical engineering,
civil engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Engineering projects
can be subject to controversy. Examples from different engineering disciplines include the
development of nuclear weapons, the Three Gorges Dam, the design and use of sport
utility vehicles and the extraction of oil. In response, some western engineering
companies have enacted serious corporate and social responsibility policies.

The course should encourage participants to share ideas and experience to develop key
communication skills in relevant business situations and operations within the
engineering and technology context. The programme should develop language skills
through discussion, role-plays, presentations, vocabulary development, language analysis
and frequent group and individual feedback. Opportunity will also be given to participate
in a discussion forum with other professionals from the same industry.

Examples of topics for vocabulary development

Engineering – industry
Technology, branches in technology
Carrers in technology
Coordinating the members of a team
Studying technology
Computing and logic
Design and modelling
Materials – strength, stiffness, toughness
Air and water – usage, pressure
Measurement – weights and measurements
Medical technology
Robotics
Movement
Thrust, speed, velocity and acceleration
Transport
Aeronautics
Car and jet engines
Petroleum engineering
Oil-based products, oil platforms
Electricity
Diodes, LEDs and transistors
Electrical safety
Sources of energy
Alternative energy
Environmental pollution
Technology and society

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Crime-fighting, security and protection

Defence technology
Military technology with a civilian application
Electronics
Radio, radiowaves
Telecommunications, satellite systems
Household technology
Domestic appliances
Heat
Light and sound
Manufacturing process
Codes and standards (ISO strength rating)
Quality controls, inspections
The prevention of accidents, security
Environmental engineering
Inventions and innovations
Technology development in the 20th and 21st century
Trends in technology
Future of technology

Examples of topics for effective communication

Introducing yourself, your function within the industry and your projects
Language for presenting information and innovations
Identifying the constituent parts of the business
Discussing technical requirements
Discussing the growth of the industry itself in the developing world
Looking at the challenges to the Industry and the image it has in the outside world
The trends in the engineering and technology industry
The regulation of the engineering and technology (ethic and environmental risks)
The changing role of governments and how to achieve a balance between price
and innovation
Describing improvements and redesigns
Explaining tests and experiments
Exchanging views on predictions and theories
Comparing results and expectations
Describing technical functions and applications
Explaining how technology works
Emphasizing technical advantages
Simplifying and illustrating technical explanations
Describing specific materials
Specifying and describing properties
Describing quality issues
Describing automated systems
Referring to measurable parameters
Discussing performance and suitabilitty
Describing component shapes and features
Asking for and giving opinions, finding solutions and managing disagreements

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Describing a process and getting and requesting information

Making suggestions in a meeting and responding to questions

Examples of language development

Grammar
Tense review
Vocabulary building
Fluency development
Writing emails
Building listening skills

Benefits for students

Improving business English language skills while talking about relevant,

challenging topics in professional area
Developing an ability to participate in complex discussions in English
Benchmarking knowledge with other professionals in the engineering and
electrotechnology industry
Discussing relevant, challenging case studies
Increasing confidence in English
Developing language skills in a profession which could be key to career
progression

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 ENGINEERING AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY

Weblinks for English in engineering and electrotechnology

http://www.engineering-dictionary.org/

A source of comprehensive vocabulary used in the engineering industry. Suitable for B1

and higher levels.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/

A webpage of Daily Telegraph with a lot of useful and up-to-date material from all
branches of the engineering and technology industry – articles, videos, pruduct
presentations... etc. It is suitable for B2 and higher levels.

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/technology/

A webpage of The New York Times with a lot of useful and up-to-date material from all
branches of the engineering and technology industry – articles, videos, pruduct
presentations... etc. It is suitable for B2 and higher levels.

http://www.airliners.net/

A webpage dedicated specifically to aeronautics. It is a comprehensive source of

materials that can be used in the lessons – e.g. articles, videos. Suitable for B1 and higher
levels.

http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-teach-english-for-engineers.html

An article for teachers with very handy tips on how to teach English for engineers.

YouTube links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXlQ7-SpewI

The Job Video - Aircraft Maintenance Engineer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OEt6SkdA4M

Introducing the world of aviation maintenance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFFop_3e7Ko

Working on an Oil Platform - North Sea Drilling Operations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LPdmxnBkIU

NATO - Ballistic Missile Defence Overview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgC_ef_huds and https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=u28_bv8Ss80

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The "Iron Dome“ (Israel) - missile defense system – 2 videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gGalZV8TM

A tutorial video on how satellites work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqEiNUY_rUo

Introducing Ten Future Home Technologies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d29DOPe9TRc

Product description - The iPad: An In-depth Look

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rZcQTbOfLM

Electrical Safety for Industrial Facilities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZGphas0Ayc

Ten Worst Engineering Disasters

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Textbooks for English in engineering and electrotechnology

Available in JCL library

Oxford English for careers: Engineering is packed with the specialist language
students need for work as an engineer. Each unit provides opportunities to practise their
English in real work situations and gives them the language, information and skills they
need to start their career. It explores a range of different types of engineering, including
Mechanical, Materials, Electronic, Electrical, Design, Civil & Structural and Aerospace.
Each unit consists of three main sections: “It’s my job“ – real people talk about their work
in a variety of engineering careers, “Number talk“ – special focus on using numbers and
measurements at work, and “Physic bank“ – extra practice of engineering. The Teacher’s
Resource Book provides you with the necessary background information and specialist
knowledge of the subject and photocopiable class activities and tests. The course is
designed for intermediate (B1) students.

Topics covered by the units: Engineering – industry, Design and modelling, Measurement,
Strength and stiffness, Movement, Electricity, Electronics, Computing and logic, Materials,
Air and water, Heat, Light and sound, Manufacturing, Codes and standards, Helping to
save the planet

Oxford English for careers: Technology 1 is a course which helps the students learn
what they need to know for a career in technology: the English they need to do the job
and opportunities to practise the language in real situations and learn specialist
vocabulary on every page. Each unit consists of these sections: “It’s my job“ – real people
talk about their work in technology, “Customer care“ – key interpersonal skills for
customer relations, “Gadget box“ – the latest technological innovations, “Reading bank“ –
practice in reading for technology, and facts, figures and quotations all about technology.
The Teacher’s Resource Book provides you with the necessary background information
and specialist knowledge of the subject and photocopiable class activities and tests. The
course is designed for pre-intermediate and intermediate students (A2 - B1).

Topics covered by the units: Technology and society, Studying technology, Design,
Technology in sport, Appropriate technology, Crime-fighting and security, Manufacturing,
Transport, High living: skyscrapers, Medical technology, Personal entertainment,
Information technology, Telecommunications, Carrers in technology, The future of
technology

Oxford English for careers: Technology 2 is a course which helps the students learn
what they need to know for a career in technology: the English they need to do the job
and opportunities to practise the language in real situations and learn specialist
vocabulary on every page. Each unit consists of these sections: “It’s my job“ – real people
talk about their work in technology, “Make your point“ – key strategies for communicating
with non-professionals, “Gadget box“ – the latest technological innovations, “Writing
bank“ – practice in writing for technology, and facts, figures and quotations all about
technology. The Teacher’s Resource Book provides you with the necessary background
information and specialist knowledge of the subject and photocopiable class activities and
tests. The course is designed for intermediate and upper-intermediate students (B1 – B2).

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Topics covered by the units: Ways in to technology, Food and agriculture, Bridges and
tunnels, Plastics, Alternative energy, Aeronautics, Future homes, Mass transportation,
Petroleum engineering, Environmental engineering, Robotics, Household technology,
Defence technology, Electronics, Career development

You can find some teaching material also in other business English textbooks.
Examples:

Intelligent Business Intermediate, Unit 15 „Innovation“

Chapters covered by this unit:

Vocabulary: Product development

Grammar: Past modals

Can do’s: Reviewing achievement

Reading excercises: Failure is glorious (Coursebook), Motorola and Iridium (Coursebook),

Innovation by numbers (Workbook)

Listening excercises: Great innovators (Coursebook), Discussing achievement

(Coursebook), Radio programme about innovation (Workbook)

Intelligent Business Upper Intermediate, Unit 5 „Technology“

Chapters covered by this unit:

Vocabulary: Definitions, technology, compound nouns

Grammar: Relative clauses

Can do’s: Briefing, Assigning tasks, Writing an email recommending a product

Reading excercises: The march of the mobiles (Coursebook), Inventor of nanotechnology

(Coursebook), Wireless internet (Workbook)

Listening excercises: Describing features and functions (Coursebook), Turning ideas into
reality (Coursebook), Briefing session (Coursebook, Workbook)

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Examples of texts to be used in lessons

TEXT 1: The world of engineering and how to get into it

(source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/education/the-axis/11445014/careers-in-
engineering.html, PUBLISHED: 11 Mar 2015) - MODIFIED

If you want to end up sending a new plane into the sky, build the next major skyscraper
or make a new and revolutionary microchip, here’s where to begin:

Engineers are at the cutting edge in emerging new fields, crafting the very small and
exploring the very big. How about decoding a spider’s web to develop a super-strong
structure on which to grow human tissues? Or using the symmetry of fir cones to design
next season’s outdoor gear? Or developing the next generation of machines to train elite
sportsmen and women? Across a huge spectrum of fields, from information technology
and medicine to health and the arts, engineers are creating the technologies, fine-tuning
the hardware, crunching the numbers and making things happen.

But engineers are also doing the jobs they’ve done

for centuries – improving communications,
enhancing everyday lives and re-imagining our
cities. Megaprojects such as HS2, Crossrail and the
Queensferry Crossing provide exciting
opportunities for engineers from across the
disciplines. The choice can be dizzying. Our guide
is designed to get you started at matching your
passions and profile to an engineering
specialization.

Aeronautics and astronautics

The job: Fancy testing model planes at a real airport? Or collecting asteroid samples?
Space is bigger than ever – and engineers are needed to develop lighter airframes,
cheaper satellites, bigger airports, faster rockets and sharper defence systems. And to
advise on all the economic, legal and environmental issues associated with aircraft
operations and performance. It’s a high-flying job, but with safety at its core.

The companies: Aston Martin, BAE Systems, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company
Limited and Rolls-Royce.

Bioengineering

The job: Artificial joints, MRI scanners, pacemakers and artificial skin – just a few of the
many recent inventions by bioengineers. Those with a flair for software development can
work in an eclectic range of roles in research labs, aerospace companies, financial
universities and medical equipment manufacturers. This is a fast-evolving new sphere
with growing demand for specialists across Europe.

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The companies: AngioDynamics UK, 3M Health Care, LifeCell EMEA, GlaxoSmithKline.

Civil engineering

The job: The Institution of Civil Engineers likes to remind its members that the “civil” part
of the job is all about people. As well as building bridges, cities, motorways and hotels,
civil engineers are developing the latest systems for supplying energy and clean water to
our home and for processing and recycling household and industrial waste. Iconic
structures such as the Olympic Park, Panama Canal and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai are the
handiwork of civil engineers.

The companies: Atkins, Arup, Balfour Beatty, BuroHappold, BAM Construct UK.

Earth science and environmental engineering

The job: Sustainability is far more than a buzzword for engineers and the new wave of
earth scientists are leading the way in changing our attitude to natural resources and
natural hazards, and working with nature to secure the future. Geoscientists also provide
the hard data for weather forecasters and energy providers.

The companies: Atomic Weapons Establishment, e2v, Michell Instruments, QinetiQ.

Electrical engineering

The job: Have you always had a thing about getting to the guts of machinery? Nothing
works without power. Electrical engineers are the key workers when it comes to the
generation, supply, distribution, application and control of electricity. They are also vital
to manufacturing and increasingly leading developments in greening energy use, through
hybrid and electric cars, ships and aircraft.

The companies: Humber, Kirkby Lindsey, Power Supply Projects, Vic Coupland.

Electronic engineering

The job: The “invisible” software apps and user-friendly hardware we take for granted are
the bread and butter of electronic engineers. Skilled electronic engineers can find work in
an ever-widening range of sectors from software development to gaming to avionics to
defence to mobile communications. Nanotechnology firms are recruiting staff to engineer
the next generation of optical equipment, chemical processing systems and measuring
devices.

The companies: BAE Systems, Cambridge Nanotherm, EDF Energy, Edinburgh

Instruments, National Grid, Network Rail.

Mechanical engineering

The job: “Mech eng” has been around since the start of the industrial revolution, but

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today’s practitioners are in the frontline of robotics, power generation, fluid mechanics,
tribology, construction and manufacturing. The future of automotive – from driverless
cars to on-board automated safety systems – is in the hands of mechanical engineers,
too.

The companies: BMW, General Electric, Google, Siemens, Sony.

Oil and petroleum engineering

The job: Few job sectors come with travel as a dead cert, but oil is rarely found without at
least a helicopter flight. Whether linking up the piping systems on a North Sea rig or
developing processes to extract insect repellent from oil, engineers are required. Prices
and demand shift all the time, but upstream and downstream opportunities continue to
come up.

The companies: BP, Cairn Energy, ExxonMobil, ScottishPower, Shell.

TEXT 2: Not so tasty tomatoes? Engines' heat and exhaust fumes to

be used to boost growth

(source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/11660332/
Not-so-tasty-tomatoes-Engines-heat-and-exhaust-fumes-to-be-used-to-boost-
growth.html, PUBLISHED: 08 Jun 2015)

Rolls-Royce's engines will warm giant tomato greenhouses and CO2 in their
exhaust gases will help speed up their growth.

Tomatoes on the Isle of Wight are to get the Rolls-Royce

treatment - with engines made by the company helping the
red fruits grow faster. The company is supplying engines
whose by-products will warm greenhouses on the island.
Exhaust fumes from the 12-cylinder engines will also be be
used to help the tomatoes grow.

The exhaust the engines produce will be “scrubbed” by

catalysts to remove pollutants and then the cleaned-up gas will be pumped into the
greenhouses. The carbon dioxide (CO2) the exhaust contains is a source of food for plants
and helps speed up their growth.

Rolls’ Bergen engines unit – part of the FTSE 100 company’s land and sea unit – is
supplying four engines to APS Salads on the Isle of Wight. These gas-fuelled engines will
be connected to generators which produce power which is fed into the island’s energy
grid, with the by-products of running the engines delivering a boost to APS’s tomatoes.

Project developer P3P Partners will operate the combined engines and generators, which
will each produce 5,605 kW of electrical power and 6,415 kW of heat, and will be housed
in a sound-proofed building next to the greenhouses.

Matthias Vogel, from Rolls-Royce power systems, said: “We are delighted that Rolls-Royce

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power plants will provide the electricity, heat and CO2 for tomatoes being grown by APS
Salads. Working with P3P, we have developed a bespoke energy generation concept that
will increase their crop yield while reducing the impact on the environment.”

The company said it had installed more than 50 similar

combined heat and power systems around the world. Rolls’
land and sea unit has recently been a source of problems
for the blue-chip engineering group, which is best known
for the jet engines it produces for aircraft. The fall in the
price of oil meant that energy-industry customers cut back
on orders for engines used in the sector, leading Rolls to
warn that the division would not perform as well as had
been hoped.

Last month Rolls said it would cut 600 jobs in its Norwegian-focused marine business as a
result to the lower oil price, though said the decision would be “broadly neutral” on the
group’s profits for 2015.

TEXT 3: Car industry fumes about the 'demonisation' of diesel

engines

(source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11463519/Car-
industry-fumes-about-the-demonisation-of-diesel-engines.html, PUBLISHED: 11
Mar 2015) - MODIFIED

Research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed

widespread confusion about exhaust emissions from the latest diesel-powered
vehicles.

Britain’s motor industry has launched a fight-back against what it calls the
“demonisation” of diesel engines, saying misconceptions about them are harming
attempts to improve the UK’s air quality.

The campaign – which is backed by manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford,
BMW and Volkswagen – comes as several local authorities act against diesel-powered
vehicles with surcharges and an ultra low emissions zone is due to be introduced in
central London. The strength of feeling is even stronger across the Channel, with Paris’
mayor having called for diesel-engined cars to be banned from the city by 2020.

However, Britain’s car industry says that diesel is being wrongly attacked and has helped
to reduce pollution, with the fuel proving more efficient than petrol, meaning CO2
emissions are lower. In the past, the government promoted diesel as a way of combating
climate change because of lower CO2, but policy has
now swung the other way.

Concerns over diesel engines come from the

particulates (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) they

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produce, but industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders say these
fears do not reflect advances in technology.

Mike Hawes, the society’s chief executive, said: “Today’s diesel engines are the cleanest
ever and the culmination of billions of pounds of investment by manufacturers to improve
air quality. Bans and parking taxes therefore make no sense from an environmental point
of view. “We need to avoid penalizing one vehicle technology over another and instead
encourage the uptake of the latest low-emission vehicles by consumers.”

The SMMT says the latest diesel engines – which meet “Euro 6” standards which will be
mandatory in all new diesel cars from September – mean cars will produce 0.005 grams
of PM10 per kilometre driven. This is the equivalent to a grain of sand per km, and down
from the 0.05g the engines produced in 2001.

Research by the SMMT revealed widespread

confusion about exhaust emissions from the
latest diesel-powered vehicles, including
that more than half of the public believes
cars and commercial vehicles are the
biggest source of air pollution in the UK.

However, the SMMT says power stations are

the major producer of harmful nitrogen
oxides (NOx) and claims advances in engine
technology mean that it would take 42
million of the latest diesel-engined cars to
produce the same amount of NOx as a
single coal-fired power station.

TEXT 4: 9 Things Invented For Military Use That You Now Encounter
In Everyday Life

(Source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/31510/9-things-invented-military-use-
you-now-encounter-everyday-life)

A surprising number of military inventions have found their ways into our
civilian lives. Here are just a few military-turned-everyday items.

1. GPS
When you rely on the GPS app on that Android phone to keep yourself
from getting lost, you’re using the same Global Positioning System
satellites set up by the U.S. Department of Defense in the early 1990s.
At President Clinton’s behest, the system became available to civilian
users in 1996.

2. FREEZE DRYING
Dippin’ Dots, anyone? The technology that’s now used to make freeze-dried ice cream
was first used widely during World War II as a way of preserving medical supplies that

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otherwise required refrigeration.

3. EPIPEN
EpiPens, the auto-injecting syringes that allow you to give yourself a quick shot of
epinephrine to stave off an allergic reaction, sprung from a similar device designed to
protect soldiers from nerve agents and chemical weapons.

4. CARGO PANTS
British soldiers began sporting cargo pants in the 1930s because they offered a
convenient way to carry vital military gear like ammunition. American troops adopted
them just a few years later, and the general public began to wear them in the 1990s.

5. DUCT TAPE
In 1942, duct tape was invented for the military as a way to seal
ammunition cases so that water couldn’t get in. Soldiers during
WWII quickly realized that it worked well for fixing army gear, too.

6. JERRYCAN
You know those canisters you use in order to get gasoline to put in your lawnmower? They
were initially developed for the German military in the 1930s.

7. JEEP
The Jeep has come a long way since it was first manufactured for American troops to use
on reconnaissance missions in WWII. Now celebrating its 70th anniversary, some new
models of the world’s oldest SUV come equipped with luxuries such as leather-wrapped
steering wheels, DVD players, and touchscreen media consoles.

8. COMPUTERS
ENIAC, the first electronic computer that was capable of being programmed to serve
many different purposes, was designed for the U.S. military during WWII. The army paid
for the computer to be built so they could use it in their Ballistic Research Laboratory.

9. MICROWAVE
In 1945, an American scientist accidentally realized that the radar transmitters used by
the U.S. Army throughout WWII actually released enough heat—in the form of
“microwaves”—that they could cook food. This technology was used to construct the first
microwave oven within the next 2 years.

DEMO LESSON:

Inventions and their impact on our lives, Radio and its components

Sources:

Worksheet “Inventions“ from www.onestopenglish.com

Worksheet “Marconi – The Invention of Radio“ from

http://www.englischlehrer.in/

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 ENGINEERING AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY

Worksheet “Grammar – The Titanic“ (3rd conditional) from

www.onestopenglish.com

Introduction: Today’s lesson is about the important inventions in the history of Mandkind.
Brainstorm the inventions which have had the biggest impact on the quality of life.

Speaking: Worksheet “Inventions“ – Put these inventions into two columns – the best and
the worst. Discuss in pairs/in a group the reasons for your decisions.

Points for further discussion:

Which of these inventions influenced our lives the most and why?

Which industry produces these items?

What are they for?

Who invented these things and when?

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 ENGINEERING AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY

Reading: Worksheet “Marconi – The Invention of Radio“ – Read the texts and
translate/explain the terms from the text.

The Italian Marconi (1874-1937) believed that

radio had a big future as a new kind of
communication. No one in Italy took him
seriously, but he moved to England and made
his dream come true.

Every year he made his radio sets and aerials

more powerful until he could send messages
across oceans. In 1912 the Titanic, the world’s
biggest ship, hit an iceberg and started to sink.
Radio operator Jack Phillips used one of
Marconi’s radio sets to send out a plea for
help. Jack died in the disaster, but as a result
of his bravery 705 people were rescued.
Marconi didn’t believe in music and talk on
radio. He thought radio should stick to Morse
code. He was wrong. But he was right to
imagine that radio could be a worldwide
industry. When he died in 1937, every radio
station on Earth went silent for some minutes
in memory of a great scientist and a great
inventor. The Russian Popov (1859-1905)
invented the aerial at the same time as
Marconi. It’s common for inventors to come up
with the same idea at the same time.

WHAT ARE THE MEANINGS OF THESE

TERMS?
radio set:
until:
plea:
to invent:
aerial:
electrical current:
loudspeaker:
transmitter:
to turn sth. into sth.:

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Grammar Practice: Worksheet “Grammar – The Titanic“ (3rd conditional) – complete the
sentences:

Lesson wrap-up: “What would have happenned if there had been no ...?“ Think of the
importance of following inventions for the technical development in the past and write
down at least 5 sentences using the 3rd conditional.

radio penicilin printing press television roll-film camera

light bulb nuclear bomb steam engine assembly line contraceptive

pill

Example: If there had been no radio, all passengers on the Titanic would have died.

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Engineering and electrotechnology dictionary

Accelerate - to speed up Chemical Properties - characteristics
of a substance that determine how it will
Accelerator - a machine which react with other substances
accelerates charged particles to high
energies Chemical Reaction - a chemical change
in which one or more substances are
Antimatter - matter that is exactly the changed into one or more new
opposite in every way from its matter substances
counterpart: antiquark/quark;
positron/elektron Circuit - a closed path through which an
electric current flows
Atom - the smallest unit of a chemical
element, made up of a nucleus Colloidal Suspension - a material that
surrounded by electrons has properties of more than one state of
matter, such as Jell-o
Beam - a ray of light; a group of particles
traveling together along a well-defined Compound - a substance composed of
path two or more elements, such as water
(H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), or table
BEAMS - the acronym for Becoming sugar (C12H22O11)
Enthusiastic About Math and Science
Computer - a programmable machine
CEBAF - former name of Jefferson Lab; that inputs, processes and outputs data
stands for Continuous Electron Beam
Accelerator Facility Coordinate - a set of numbers that
determines the location of a point in
Celsius - a temperature scale on which space
water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°
Conduction - the transportation of heat
Charge - the amount of electricity or electricity from one place to another
carried by a body (A charge can be directly through an object (A frying pan is
negative, like an electron, or positive, warmed by a hot stove due to
like a proton. Objects with opposite conduction.)
charges attract one another, while
objects with like charges repel one Conductor - a material (like a metal)
another.) through which electricity and heat flow
easily
Chemical Change - a change in the
chemical composition of a substance to Continuous - steady; uninterrupted
produce a new material with new
properties (An example of a chemical Convection - the transportation of heat
change is wood turning to ash and smoke from one place to another by the
when it burns.) movement of a liquid or gas (A classroom
is warmed by a hot air blower due to
convection.)

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Cryogenics - the science of very low FEL - stands for Free Electron Laser; a
temperatures, far below the freezing tunable laser made by wiggling a beam
point of water of electrons (Jefferson Lab's FEL is the
most powerful in the world.)
Data - a group of measurements, facts
or statistics Fahrenheit - a temperature scale at
which water freezes at 32° and boils at
Dependent Variable - the responding 212°
variable; the variable that may change
as a result of a change in the Force - a push or pull (There are four
independent variable basic forces: gravitational,
electromagnetic, strong nuclear and
Electric Current - movement of weak nuclear.)
electricity, measured in charges per
second (just as river current is measured Gas - a state of matter with no definite
in liters per second) shape or volume, like air

Electromagnet - a wire coil around a Gluons - particles that hold quarks

metal core (usually iron) that acts like a together
magnet when an electric current flows
through it Graph - information represented in the
form of a picture, diagram or drawing
Electron - a tiny particle with a negative
charge which orbits an atom's nukleus Grid - a pattern of horizontal and vertical
lines forming squares of uniform size on
Element - any substance that cannot be a map or chart
broken up into simpler substances by
chemical means (Currently 115 elements Helium - a colorless, odorless, tasteless
have been observed and are displayed gas (Helium becomes a liquid near
on the Periodic Table of Elements - absolute zero. Liquid helium is used to
Gold, silver, iodine, oxygen and nickel cool Jefferson Lab's accelerator
are examples of elements.) components.)

Energy - the capacity to do work Hypothesis - an educated guess that

can be tested or investigated
Engineer - a person who uses science
and math to design, build or operate Independent Variable - the
equipment, structures and systems (A manipulated variable; the variable that is
person who receives a college degree in changed on purpose in an experiment
engineering might be an electrical,
mechanical, industrial, chemical, Injector - the first section of an
environmental, biochemical or accelerator, where electrons are torn
aeronautical engineer.) away from atoms and accelerated to an
energy sufficient for them to be injected
Experiment - a series of actions carried into the cavities of the accelerator
out to test a theory, demonstrate a fact
or find out what happens

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Insulator - a material through which Matter - something that has mass which
electricity or heat does not flow easily can exist in the form of a solid, liquid,
(like many plastics, glasses and gas or plasma
ceramics)
Mean - the sum of the items in a set of
Interact - act with each other data divided by the number of items in
the set; the average (The mean of
Internet - a worldwide network of {1,1,1,2,4,6,6} is 3 since (1 + 1 + 1 + 2
computers linked together for the + 4 + 6 + 6) ÷ 7 = 3.)
purpose of exchanging information (also
sometimes called the Information Median - the middle number in a set of
Superhighway or Cyberspace) ordered data (The median of
{1,1,1,2,4,6,6} is 2 since 2 is the middle
Ion - an atom or molecule that has an number when all of the numbers are
electric charge because it has either placed in order. If there are an even
gained or lost electrons number of numbers, the median is the
mean of the two middle numbers.)
Kelvin - a temperature scale that begins
at absolute zero, where there is no Meson - particle made of a quark and an
molecular movement (Water freezes at antiquark that is thought to bind protons
273 K and boils at 373 K.) and neutrons together inside the nucleus
of an atom
Laboratory - a place equipped for
scientific research, experiments or Microscope - an optical instrument that
testing uses a combination of lenses to produce
magnified images of very small objects
Lepton - one of the two basic building
blocks of matter (An electron is a lepton.) Mixture - a substance composed of two
or more components, each of which
LINAC - an abbreviation for Linear retain its own properties (A salad is a
Accelerator mixture of vegetables.)

Linear Accelerator - a machine used in Mode - the data item that occurs the
physics experiments that makes particles most often in a set of data (The mode of
go faster in a straight line {1,1,1,2,4,6,6} is 1 since 1 is the number
that appears most often.)
Liquid - a state of matter with definite
volume but no definite shape, like water Molecule - two or more elements that
are chemically joined (Water is a
Magnet - a piece of iron or other molecule made from two atoms of
material that attracts other pieces of iron Hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen.)
or steel
Negative - having a minus charge
Magnification - the process of making (Negative charges are attracted to
something look bigger positive charges and are repelled by
other negative charges.)
Mass - the measure of the amount of
matter an object has in it; measured in Neutral - having no charge
grams or kilograms

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Neutron - a neutral particle made of Nitrogen - a colorless, odorless,

three quarks found in the nucleus of an tasteless gas which makes up 78% of the
atom air (Nitrogen is a gas

at room temperature and becomes a Proton - a positively charged particle

liquid at about 77 K, -196°C or -321°F.) found in the nucleus of an atom

Nuclear Physics - the science of Prototype - an original type that serves

studying the nucleus of the atom as a model for later examples

Nucleon - a proton or a neutron Quadrant - one quarter of the

coordinate plane (The x- and y-axes
Nucleus - the central part of an atom, divide the coordinate plane into four
which makes up 99.9% of the atom's quadrants.)
mass
Qualitative - observations that do not
Observation - the use of one's senses involve measurements and numbers
to learn something new ("My brother is shorter than my sister," is
a qualitative observation.)
Orbit - the path an object follows as it
travels around another object Quantitative - observations that involve
measurements and numbers ("My
Particle - a very small piece or part; an brother is 30cm shorter than my sister,"
indivisible object is a quantitative observation.)

Physical Change - a change that affects Quark - one of the two basic building
the size, shape or color of a substance blocks of matter (Scientists have
but does not affect its composition discovered six different kinds of quarks:
Top, Bottom, Up, Down, Strange and
Physics - the study of matter, energy Charm.)
and force
Radiation - the transportation of heat
Plasma - a very hot, gas-like state of from one place to another by waves or
matter particles (The Earth is warmed by the
Sun due to radiation.)
Pole - the place on a magnet where the
magnetic field is strongest Resistance - a measurement of how
much a material opposes the flow of
Positive - having a plus charge (Positive
electricity (Wood has high resistance so
charges are attracted to negative
it is a poor conductor of electricity.
charges and are repelled by other
Copper has low resistance, so it is a good
positive charges.)
conductor of electricity.)
Probe - an object or device used to
Scatter - to go in many directions
investigate the unknown
Science - the study of the natural world
Property - any characteristic or
attribute of an object or substance Scientist - a person who uses
observation, experimentation and theory

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to learn about a subject (Biologists, niobium that are cooled to 2 K by liquid

physicists, chemists, geologists and Helium.)
astronomers are all scientists.)
Technician - a person who is an expert
Solid - a state of matter with definite in doing certain technical jobs
shape and volume, like ice
Temperature - a measure of heat
Speed - a measurement of distance energy in an object, body or environment
traveled over time (example: 100 (Temperature can be measured using
kilometers per hour) Fahrenheit, Celsius or Kelvin scales.)

Spreadsheet - a computer program Theory - a general principle that

used for organizing and analyzing data explains or predicts facts or events
(Spreadsheets are arranged in rows and
columns. A cell is a box in a spreadsheet Velocity - an object's speed and
where a row and column meet. The direction of motion
names of the row and column determine
the name of the cell. For example, in the Voltage - electrical force or pressure
spreadsheet shown below, column C and (measured in volts)
row 2 meet at cell C2, the shaded box.
The value in C2 is 1.23.) Weight - a measure of the gravitational
force pulling objects to the earth, moon
Superconductivity - the flow of electric or other celestial body (The more mass a
current without any resistance in certain planet has, the greater the gravitational
metals at temperatures near absolute pull of that planet will be. An object
zero (The superconductors used at weighs more on the earth than it does on
Jefferson Lab are cavities made of the moon because the earth has more
mass than the moon.)

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Engineering Abbreviations
Here is a very comprehensive list of abbreviations used in the field of
engineering:

A - Ampere FS - Far Side

AB - As Built FSBL - Full Strength Butt Weld
AC - Alternating Current FTG - Footing
A/C - Air Conditioning FTP - Fibre Termination Panel (fibre
AFL - Above Floor Level or Above optical cable)
Finished Level FW - Fillet Weld
AG - Agricultural Pipe Drain GIS - Graphic Information System
AGL - Above Ground Level HOR or HORIZ - Horizontal
AHU - Air Handler Unit HP - High Pressure
APPROX - Approximately IO - Inspection Opening
ASCII - American Standard Code for kHz - Kilohertz
Information Interchange KJ - Key Joint
BSP - British Standard Pipe KWh - Kilo Watt Hour (metre)
BT - Bath Tub or Boundary Trap L - Steel Angle
BTM - Bottom LAN - Local Area Network
CAD - Computer Aided Design LGX - Line Group Cross (Connector, fibre
CCTV - Closed Circuit TeleVision optical cable)
CFW - Continuous Fillet Weld LH - Left Hand
CHS - Circular Hollow Section LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas
CL - Center Line M - Metres (English) or Meters
CLG - Control Joint MAX - Maximum
CLR - Clearance MDF - Main Distribution Frame
CMU - Cement Masonry Unit (Telecommunications)
CNJ - Construction Joint MFR - Manufacturer
COL - Column MHz - Megahertz
COMMS - Communications MIN - Minimum
CONN - Connection MISC - Miscellaneous
CONT - Continuous M.J. - Movement Joint
CT - Controller MM - Millimetres
CTR - Center MRP - Material Requirements Planning
CTRL - Control MS - Mild Steel
CTRS - Centers NET - Network
DN - Diameter Nominal NO - Number
DP - Down Pipe NOM - Nominal
DWG - Drawing NPR - New Product Release
ELEC - Electrical NS - Near Side
ECN or ECR - Engineering Change Note, NSOP - Not Shown On Plan
Engineering Change Request NTS - Not To Scale
EQ - Equal NC - Numerical Control
EQUIP - Equipment OD - Outside Diameter
EW - Each Way OPT - Optional
EWB - Electric Water Boiler PCD - Pitch Circle Diameter
FL - Floor Level PFC - Parallel Flange Channel
FOC - Fibre Optic Cable PL - Plate

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 ENGINEERING AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY

PT - Pressure Tapping
QC - Quality Control
QTY - Quantity
R or RAD - Radius or radial
RAS - Reliability, Availability and
Serviceability
REF - Reference
REINF - Reinforcement
REQ'D - Required
REV - Revision
RFQ - Request for Quote
RH - Right Hand
RHS - Rectangular Hollow Section
RL - Reduced Level or Relative Level
SAN - Sanitary
SDU - Sanitary Disposal Unit
SF - Strip Footing
SHS - Square Hollow Section
SIM - Similar
SQ - Square
SS or S/S - Stainless Steel
SL - Structural Level
SSL - Structural Slab Level
TB - Tie Beam
TEMP - Temperature
TFC - Taper Flange Channel
THK - Thick
TO or T.O. or T.OFF - Top Off
TUN - Tundish
UA - Unequal Angle (steel)
UB - Universal Beam (steel)
UC - Universal Column (steel)
UON or UNO - Unless Otherwise Noted
or Unless Noted Otherwise
VA - Value Analysis
VER or VERT - Vertical
WAN - Wide Area Network
WB - Welded Beam (steel)
WC - Welded Column (steel)
WD - Working Drawing
WP - Water Proof or Work Poi

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