3.How old was Einstein when he published his general theory of relativity?
4.For what paper did he get his Nobel Prize for physics?
5.What is the essence of his General Theory of Relativity?
6.What is the essence of his Special Theory of Relativity?
7.Why are scientists still working out the implications of the relativity theory although more than ninety years have passed since its development?
Give Russian correspondence:
concerning (about), once and for all (for ever), particularly (especially), a study (a research, an investigation), independent of, revolutionary (innovatory), no longer (no more)
THE FOUR PAPERS THAT CHANGED OUR IDEA
OF THE WORLD
FYI
1. heuristic – heuristic methods of learning involve reasoning and experience rather than formulas
2. a conversion – a process of changing something into a different state
Study the passage. Mind the underlined grammar points.
In 1905, the 26-year-old Einstein, without a formal academic position, published four epochal papers within the space of seven months. His General Theory of Relativity with his famous equation E = mc2 (energy equals mass times the velocity of light squared) is a cornerstone of the modern nuclear age.
The first paper was titled “On a heuristic point of view concerning the generation and conversion of light.” This paper is the first step in the quantum revolution. In this paper Einstein proposed the hypothesis that light in its interaction with matter behaves like a particle with a discrete amount or ‘quantum’ of energy proportional to its frequency. Over the next two decades the hypothesis was verified experimentally and in 1921 Einstein got his Nobel Prize for physics.
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The second paper concerned the explanation of Brownian motion, the phenomenon of random motion executed by particles suspended in a fluid. This paper once and for all settled the question of the reality of atoms. It also developed methods that lie at the root of modern statistical physics, particularly in the study of systems out of equilibrium.
The third paper titled “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies’ opened the road to the Special Theory of Relativity. It abolished the notion that electromagnetic radiation requires some kind of medium, the ‘ether’, for its transmission; the problem which had occupied him for a decade. Einstein also postulated that the velocity of light was always constant, independent of the velocity of the emitter.
In the fourth paper Einstein announced the result that energy is proportional to mass, as a consequence of the Special Theory of Relativity. The constant of proportionality is the square of the speed of light.
In these papers, Einstein would initiate a revolutionary turn away from classical physics
Physics would no longer be the same after 1905. The link between ordinary sensory experience and the fundamental laws of nature that had existed in Newtonian physics would now be lost for ever.
Abraham Pais, Oxford
Vocabulary Notes
1.a space of time – a period of time
2.a frequency – the rate at which something happens
3.to concern – to be about
4.to be random – to have no definite pattern
5.to lie at the root – to lie at the bottom – to be a cornerstone – to be the essential part
6.to execute – to carry out, to implement
7.to abolish – to cancel
8.a notion – a concept – an idea
9.a consequence – an effect – an implication
10.a link – a bond – a connection
POST-READING TASK
(To be done at home in writing)
I. Formulate questions using the question words.
1.Einstein wrote his epochal papers ….. (How many years ago?)
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2.Einstein’s first paper was titled ……. (How?)
3.In his first paper Einstein proposed the hypothesis that …… (What hypothesis?)
4.The second paper concerned …… (What?)
5.The second paper developed methods that … (What methods?)
6.The third paper was titled …… (How?)
7.The third paper abolished the notion that ….. (What notion?)
8.In the third paper Einstein postulated that ….. (What?)
9.In the fourth paper Einstein announced … … (What?)
II. Put in the prepositions.
1.Light … its interaction … matter behaves … a particle … a discrete amount … energy proportional … its frequency.
2.… the next two decades the hypothesis was verified experimental-
ly.
3.… 1921 Einstein got his Nobel Prize … physics.
4.Brownian motion is a phenomenon … random motion executed … particles suspended … a fluid.
5.The second paper also developed methods that lie … the root … modern statistical physics, particularly … the study … systems ….. equilibrium.
6.The velocity … light is always constant ….. … the velocity … the emitter.
7.Energy is proportional … mass.
8.The constant …proportionality is the square … the speed … light.
III. Make up simple sentences with the below words and expres-
sions. Follow the passage.
1.to propose a hypothesis
2.to verify a hypothesis experimentally
3.to settle the question
4.to develop methods
5.to lie at the root
6.to abolish the notion
7.to postulate
8.to announce the results
IV. Give words close in meaning. |
|
1. a discrete amount of energy |
4. to be a cornerstone of |
2. to test |
5. especially |
3. to be concerned with |
|
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6. an investigation |
9. to begin |
7. a concept |
10. a link |
8. an implication |
11. no more |
CLASS EXERCISES
Exercise 1 (in groups)
Ask and answer the questions formulated in post-reading task I.
Exercise 2 (do it yourself)
Translate the sentences using the below words and expressions.
1 in its interaction with matter
2 to be verified experimentally
3 to be proportional to
4 to concern
5 to be suspended in a liquid
6 to develop a method
7 to lie at the root
8 to be independent of
1.Как ведёт себя свет при взаимодействии с материей?
2.При взаимодействии с материей свет ведёт себя как частица с дискретным количеством или квантом энергии, величина которого пропорциональна частоте света.
3.Эта гипотеза была проверена экспериментально?
4.О чем говорилось во второй статье?
5.Броуновское движение – это явление хаотического движения частиц, распыленных в жидкости.
6.В этой статье были разработаны методы, которые лежат в основе современной статистической физики.
7.Эйнштейн постулировал, что скорость света всегда постоянна, независимо от источника.
8.Энергия пропорциональна массе.
Exercise 3 (in groups) Brainstorming
1. What is conversion of light?
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2.What is a quantum of energy?
3.How is a quantum of energy and its frequency related?
4.What is Brownian motion?
5.What is statistical physics concerned with?
6.What is a system out of equilibrium?
7.What is the ‘ether’?
8.Why doesn’t electromagnetic radiation require a medium for its transmission?
9.How are the velocity of light and the velocity of the emitter re-
lated?
10.How are energy and mass related?
11.What is the constant of energy mass proportionality?
UNIT 7
THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY
“People, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”
Einstein
“The real world seems to contain pairs of things that are quite different: space and time, matter and energy, particles and waves. Space and time seem to be the twin rails on which reality runs. But modern science has shown that space and time are aspects of one single thing. Reality runs on a single rail – the space-time monorail. According to general relativity, space and time together can be regarded as forming a four-dimensional space called space-time.”
John Polkinghorne, professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge
PRE-READING TASK
Give Russian correspondence:
rather (we use ‘rather’ to introduce a correction), in fact (actually), yet (but), depending on, the way (how), no longer (no more)
Study the passage. Mind the underlined grammar points.
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