Материал: Гвоздева Тхе Цосмос 2011

Light always travels at the same constant velocity. How then can gravity affect light?

According to general relativity, space and time together can be regarded as forming a four-dimensional space called space-time. This space is not flat; it is distorted or curved by the matter and energy in it. We observe this curvature in the bending of the light or radio waves that travel near the sun on their way to us. In the case of light passing near the sun, the bending is very small. However, if the sun shrinks until it is only a few miles across, the bending would be so great that light leaving the sun would not get away but would be dragged back by the sun’s gravitational field. According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light, so there would be a region from which it would be impossible to escape. The region is called a black hole. Its boundary is called the event horizon. It is formed by the light that fails to get away from the black hole but stays hovering on the edge.

Stephen Hawking

Vocabulary Notes

1.to reason – to come to a particular conclusion by thinking caefully

2.sufficiently – adequately – enough

3.to regard – to consider

4.to distort – to curve – to deform

5.to shrink – to become smaller – to contract

6.to bend – when something bends it changes its shape to form a

curve

7.to hover – to stay in the same position

8.an edge – the physical limit of an object or place

POST-READING TASK (to be done in writing)

I. In your own words write about:

1.John Mitchell

2.the paper Mitchell wrote in 1783

3.the escape velocity

4.the conclusion we can make

5.a massive star, small in size

6.space

7.how gravity affects light

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8.the definition of a black hole

9.the formation of the event horizon

II. Add up some more information about black holes. Write a paragraph.

III. Make up your own conclusion. IV. Give words close in meaning.

CLASS EXERCISES

Exercise 1 (in pairs)

Follow the passage. Read the sentences with the following expressions:

1.As far as I know

2.Suppose

3.Eventually

4.the escape velocity

5.to have much effect on

6.to be dragged back by

7.to detect the presence of the star

8.to affect light

9.According to general relativity

10.to be distorted

11.According to the theory of relativity

Exercise 2 (do it yourself)

Study grammar point II and put the verbs into the passive.

1.The first person to discuss black holes (call) John Mitchell.

2.The first paper about black hole (write) in 1783.

3.A cannon ball (slow down) by the effect of gravity.

4.This critical speed (call) the escape velocity.

5.Light from the star’s surface (drag back) by the star’s gravitational

field.

6.The presence of the star may (detect) by the effect that its gravitational field would have on nearby matter.

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7.Light (not affect) by gravity.

8.Space and time can (regard) as forming a four-dimensional space.

9.A four-dimensional space (call) space-time.

10.This space (to distort) by the matter and energy in it.

11.The curvature in the bending of the light or radio waves can (ob-

serve).

12.Light leaving the sun would (drag back) by the sun’s gravitational field.

13.The region from which it is impossible to escape (call) a black

hole.

14.Its boundary (call) the event horizon.

15.The event horizon (to form) by the light that fails to get away from the black hole.

UNIT 8

THE BBC DESERT ISLAND DISCS

The BBC’s Desert Island Discs is a radio program, which began broadcasting in 1942. The program is broadcast weekly. The guests are asked to choose which eight records they would take with them if they were alone on a desert island. The records are played during the interview. Over the years the range of its guests has been enormous. The program has interviewed writers, actors, musicians, dancers, gardeners, sports figures, teachers, politicians, royalty – and scientists. The interviewer is Sue Lawley.

Note

1 a desert island is a small tropical island, where nobody lives.

2 a record − a disc − CD

3 royalty − the people who belong to a royal family

PRE - READING TASK

Study some grammar points.

I. Russian то, что = N + preposition + Ving

Study the sentence.

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1.The mere fact of having to organize my thoughts so that I can explain them to others often shows me a way forward.

2.I’m very fortunate in receiving a great deal of love and affection. II. We use must and have to (do) to say that it is necessary to do

something. Often it doesn’t matter which you use.

Study the sentence.

1.I have to say that the pleasure I have had when everything works out in physics is more intense than I have ever had with music.

2.The record I would take to the desert island would have to be the Mozart Requiem.

III. A modal verb shows the attitude of the speaker to the idea he expresses.

S + may (might) + V = perhaps

S + may (might) + have V3 - the action was possible in the past Might is more unsure than may.

Study the sentences.

1.There may be other kinds of dark matter that we haven’t detected

yet.

2.The initial configuration of the universe may have been chosen by God, or it might have been determined by the laws of science.

3.We may break through to a complete theory of the universe.

4.They may not have finished the book or have understood everything they read.

IV. In unreal and imaginary situations we use were with all persons.

Could = would be able to

1.I don’t feel a disabled person rather as if I were colour-blind.

2.I couldn’t carry on with my life if I only had physics.

V. We use one(s) to refer to a thing(s) which has been mentioned before.

Study the sentence.

If you could take only one record to the desert island, which one would it be?

VI. Many verbs can be followed by two objects, which usually refer to a person or a thing.

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Study the sentence.

For my fiftieth birthday my friend gave me Mozart’s complete works.

When these verbs are used in the passive there are two possibilities.

1.Mozart’s complete works were given to me for my fiftieth birth-

day.

2.I was given Mozart’s complete works for my fiftieth birthday.

Give Russian correspondence.

Rather (we use rather to suggest that the second variant is a truer one), as if, hardly (certainly not), like, a great deal of (very much), even if, so that (in order to), whereas (but, while), before, specific (particular), despite (in spite of), While (though), in excess of (over), obviously (clearly), at least (as a minimum)

INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN HAWKING

Study the interview.

Sue: Stephen you are familiar with the isolation of a desert island when you are cut off from normal physical life. How lonely is it for you?

Stephen: I don’t regard myself as cut off from normal life. I don’t feel a disabled person – just like someone with certain malfunctions of my motor neurons, rather as if I were colour-blind. I suppose my life can hardly be described as usual, but I feel it is normal in spirit.

Sue: You have already proved to yourself that you are mentally and intellectually self-sufficient, that you have got enough theories and inspiration to keep yourself occupied.

Stephen: I suppose I’m naturally a bit introverted, and my difficulties in communication have forced me to rely on myself. But I was a great talker as a boy. I need discussion with other people to stimulate me. I find it a great help in my work to describe my ideas to others. Even if they don’t offer any suggestions, the mere fact of having to or-

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