Introduction to the World of Physics. Методическое пособие по переводу научно-технических текстов. Лидия Страутман
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it is one of the things that distinguish science from pseudoscience. Measurement is also essential in industry, commerce, engineering, construction, manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and electronics.
The word measurement comes from the Greek "metron," meaning limited proportion. This also has a common root with the word "moon" and "month" possibly since the moon and other astronomical objects were among the first measurement methods of time.
The history of measurements is a topic within the history of science and technology. The meter (or metre) was standardized as the unit for length after the French revolution, and has since been adopted throughout most of the world.
• “When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the state of science.” – Lord Kelvin
Measurements always have errors and therefore uncertainties. In fact, the reduction – not necessarily the elimination – of uncertainty is central to the concept of measurement. Measurement errors are often assumed to be normally distributed about the true value of the measured quantity. Under this assumption, every measurement has three components: the estimate, the error bound, and the probability that the actual magnitude lies within the error bound of the estimate. For example, a measurement of the length of a plank might result in a measurement of 2.53 meters plus or minus 0.01 meter, with a probability of 99 percent.
In science, where accurate measurement is crucial, a measurement is understood to have three parts: first, the measurement itself, second, the margin of error, and third, the confidence level – that is, the probability that the actual property of the physical object is within the margin of error. For example, we might measure the length of an object as 2.34 meters plus or minus 0.01 meter, with a 95 percent level of confidence.
Answer the questions.
1. Where does the word measure come from?
2. What can we measure?
3. Who define the meter as a fraction of the speed of light?
4. Are there units of measurement of different sizes?
5. Where is measurement also essential?
Make questions to the underlined words
1. is a process that uses numbers to describe things based on what we can observe about them.
2. The act of measuring often requires an instrument designed and calibrated for that purpose, such as a , , , or
3. are special objects that are used to make measurements in terms of fixed units of measurement.
4. errors are often assumed to be normally distributed about the true value of the measured quantity.
5. : the estimate, the error bound, and the probability that the actual magnitude lies within the error bound of the estimate.
Put the verb into the correct form.
1. The word measurement ___from the Greek "metron," meaning limited proportion. (come) 2. The act of measuring often_____ an instrument designed and calibrated for that purpose, such as a , speedometer, , or voltmeter.( requires) 3. The from the top to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower is 300 meters. The number ____ is 300. (measured) 4. , and ____smaller units of measurement to measure small things with less . (use) 5. The unit of measurement __ the meter. (to be)
Put the verb into active or passive form.
1. This _____ to be able to compare them to each other. (do) 2. Before 1982, it _______ as the distance between two markers on a special . (define) 3. are special objects that _____ to make measurements in terms of fixed units of measurement.(use) 4. The meter (or metre)_____(standardize) as the unit for length after the French revolution, and __since ___(adopt) throughout most of the world. 5. Measurement errors ___often ___(assum) to be normally distributed about the true value of the measured quantity.
Complete the sentences using one of these verbs.
come provide make require define
1. Units of Measurement _____standards for our comparisons, so that the numbers from our measurements refer to the same thing. 2. Now scientists _____the meter as a fraction of the of . 3. The act of measuring often _____an instrument designed and calibrated for that purpose, such as a , speedometer, , or voltmeter. 4. are special objects that are used to ______measurements in terms of fixed units of measurement. 5. The word measurement _____from the Greek "metron," meaning limited proportion.
Put in a/an or the where necessary.
____ in , is 300 . That is, ____ from ____top to ____ bottom of ____ Eiffel Tower is 300 meters. ____ property of ____ Eiffel Tower being measured is ___distance. ____number measured is 300. This number does not make without ____unit of measurement. ___ meter stick is ___example of a standard. Large measurements like ___ of a and small measurements like ___ of ___ use special units of measurement. ___measurement of ___length of ___ plank might result in ___measurement of 2.53 meters plus or minus 0.01 meter, with __ probability of 99 percent.
LESSON 2
Active vocabulary
Imperial units- Имперские единицы
Emergence- появление
customary units- обычные единицы
to adopt- принять
remain- остаться
gallon- галлон
despite – несмотря на
imperial fluid ounce- имперская жидкая унция
inch-дюйм, дюймовый, медленно двигаться
Before were widely adopted around the world, the British systems of English units and later Imperial units were used in Britain, the Commonwealth and the United States. The system came