Lesson two

I. Study text A. Try to understand all details. Use a dictionary if necessary:

Text a What is nanotechnology?

1. Nanotechnology comprises technological developments on the nanometer scale, usually 0.1 to 100 nm (1/1,000 um, or 1/1,000,000 mm). This is about ten thousand times smaller than the width of a hair. Nanotechnology is any technology which exploits phenomena and structures that can only occur at the nanometer scale, which is the scale of several atoms and small molecules. The United States' National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) website defines it as follows: "Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications." Such phenomena include quantum confinement which can result in different electromagnetic and optical properties of a material between nanoparticles and the bulk material; the Gibbs-Thomson effect which is the lowering of the melting point of a material when it is nanometers in size; and such structures as carbon.

2. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are an extension of the field of materials science, and materials science departments at universities around the world in conjunction with physics, mechanical engineering, bioengineering, and chemical engineering departments are leading the breakthroughs in nanotechnology. The related term nanotechnology is used to describe the interdisciplinary fields of science devoted to the study of nanoscale phenomena employed in nanotechnology. Nanoscience is the world of atoms, molecules, macromolecules, quantum dots, and macromolecular assemblies, and is dominated by surface effects such as Van der Waals force attraction, hydrogen bonding, electronic charge, ionic bonding, соvalent bonding, hydrophilicity, and quantum mechanical tunneling, to the virtual exclusion of macro-scale effects such as turbulence and inertia. For example, the vastly increased ratio of surface area to volume opens new possibilities in surface-based science, such as catalysis.

3. Nanotechnology is creating a wealth of new materials and manufacturing possibilities, which in turn will profoundly impact our economy, our environment, and our society. Using nanotechnology, researchers and manufacturers can fabricate materials literally molecule-by-molecule. They can harness previously inaccessible properties of matter and “custom design” ultra-precise new structures, devices, and systems with new, unique, and often remarkable properties—such as materials with vastly increased strength, vastly decreased weight, vastly greater electrical connectivity, or the ability to change shape or color on demand.

II. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. Nanotechnology is any technology which exploits phenomena and structures that can occur at different scale. 2. Nanotechnology is used to describe the interdisciplinary fields of science devoted to the study of nanoscale phenomena.3.Using nanotechnology, researchers and manufacturers can fabricate materials literally molecule-by-molecule. 4. New materials and manufacturing possibilities, will not profoundly impact our economy, our environment, and our society.

III. Answer the following questions :

1. What is nanotechnology?

2. What is nanoscience?

3. Is nanotechnology closely connected with different fields of science?

4. Why is nanotechnology important?

IV. Translate paragraph 3 into Russian.

V. In paragraph 2 find the English equivalents of the following words:

материаловедение, расширение, биотехнология, совместно с, прорыв, описывать, посвященный, химическая технология, междисциплинарный, используемый, точки, предотвращение, турбулентность, инерция, соотношение, объем, возможности, поверхность, ионная связь, квантовая точка

VI. Write out of the text the words and phrases describing general information about nanotechnology.

VII. Make an outline of the text.

VIII. Speak about nanotechnology and nanoscience using your outline.