rl

t
I

d
!
I

/!

3 description of

a process
A Study this descriptron of a process {Tl-re passage
in the process of
describes the differeni -generating electricity )
SECTION

unit

Now use only the diagram on the previous page and

the notes below to help you wrrte your ov\/n
description of the process of generating eiectricity
Describe each step separately. and introduce each
step with first. then, next, etc.
1 steam producecl in boiler or rear:tor.
2 steam->turbine, drives shaft at high speed_this

classwork

seciion

3
4
5

drives generalor
steam-+condenser. cooled. becomes \ /ater
waler->back to boiler, by means of punrps
electricity producect by gener.ator--into
fr,0

Lr9rr.

Coai erJ

n
1

-l

cf stages ou.tlined

-U
)
o
o

i rtclea't,,-4.-t\,
]1,, olic'ssrl ,,t,

t/l

!A

DOW'ET

eIectricir,7 invotves

VJ

w'aler heated-+stearn_>steam drives turbine_+iurbine

* ''
crives qenet'ator->generator produces electrical

tr:lTi::_%ienerarins

The sequence of stages in the process

of
generating electricity can be representeci
in the
foliowing way

Describe in full the sequence

bove.

Ut

system

Steanr is produced in either a boiler or a nuclear

reactor. ln the case of a boiler'. this may be fuelled
by either coal or oil.
The steam iravels alcng pipes to a turbine. where it
drives the shaft at l-righ speed. The shaft of the
tui'bine is cr:upled to rh rolof cf the generetor', anci
the raprd revolulion of the rotor induces an eiectric
current in the cuter pdrt cf the genefaior, which is
known as the stator. Thrs electricity is then feC into
the electricity g:'id system.
When it has passed throughlthe turbine.' the steam
enters the condenser. Here it is passed over tubes
containing cooling water. The steam is iherefore
cooled. anci it condenses back tc \/ater. fhe water
is then returned to the boiier by means of a series
of pumps.

al

(0

uu
(0

mechanical

electncal

eneigy

el.rergy

Ccmplete this description of the process qhown

above:

'

Nuclear o' fossil fuel is used to

heat.
-This heat is used to
steam, which h turn
nrechanical energy in the turbrne. The
mechanical energy is
into electrlcai
ene;'gy' by means of a generatcr.

cie scribe the steps in a process, rnstead

first sleam passes through the
sairing
alrvays
o{
it
eniers the cortrletiser. w'e ofiet'r
then
artcl
turbine

E Whr:n it,e

When nratter changes state, it does so ln stages

Here is a diaqranr which sets out these siages Use it
to descnbe the stages of change when ice melts,
sulphur is heated. when water is useci in an
',.rrfren
electricity geneiator, etc. The followinq r'vords will be

usc{u

meli
liquefy

vapoilze

eVa POrciie
su blimate

Ireeze

co ncie nse

-solidiiy

'.
Use aiso words of sequence frrst, then, next,

eI-c

SAV.

ter the steanl has passed through the turi:lne. ii

enters ti-re condenser.

Af
or

Once the steam i-ras passed through ihe turbine, it

enters tite condenser
We can also say.
After passinq through the turbine. the steam eniers
the condenser.
These.three statements all harre the sanre meaning
TheV aie aiternative ways of expressing the same
rd

sublimat-ion

ea,

Ue-write the follo'/ving statements in the three ways

oullined above. usino aiter anC once.
The sieanr leaves tne boiler or reactor and then
en.terS ,5o iupltine.
The steam ccndenses and their it is PumPecl back
to the boiler'
From the oescripticn of this process. vr'e.know' that
if morc siearn is r,is:,J, lne turbine r,vill turrr faster li
the tr:rbine turns fasiel. tire generatol rotor rr"i11 al:o
turn fastei- arrd therefore more electricity will be
produced. We can therefore sa1':
The more steam tHat is used t.he fastei' the turbine
,will rotate

and
sublirration

The faster the turbine rotates, the more electricity

will be generated.
We often express this sort of relationship by savi ng
the
The speed of tlre turbine
amcunt of steam used.
The amount of electricity procl''rced -=-_ihe sPeed ci tl-re ttrrbine
the
l ire amount of steanr : seci
i.l
tteO
I
emounl of electricitV eC

i16

classwork

unit I

SECTION

classwork

section

1 reporting actions

Here is a diagram ancj a series

cf instructions for
carrying out an experimeni N4ake suie you can
understand them clear.iy Tlre ainr of the experiment
to investigate lhe behaviour of r"rraier when it is

is

coo ec
I

5 Continue the experiment until tne temperature oi

the water is well beiow 0"C. Observe carefully what
happens to lhe water as the temperature approaches
0'C Continue stirnng the water and noting the
temperature tor severai minutes after ice forms in the
ca

lorinreter.

Fronr ihe results, plot a graph

against rinre,
7 From the graph. and from the
durino the experiment, attempt to
about what takes place r,rrhen the
water is lowered.

of temperature
observations made
make deductions
temperatur.e of

These instructions tell us what to do in oi-der ro

perform the exper;ment.
Underline all the instruction words (imperatives) in
the instructions. like put, take, note, etc.
calorimeter

freezing
nrixture

wate.

j Crush some ice and mix it with: s,ryrali amourrt

of
common salt to produce a freczirre rnixtrtre.
2 Place this freezinq mixture in J large conrainer
3 Pour a small amount of hot water
into a
cqlorimerer and insert this calorimeter;into the fr.eezing
l-t-r

ix1g

r",

Allow the water to cool. ancl by mdans of a

mercury thermometer. take readings of the
temperature of the water at reguiar intervals_eg
once
every minute. Note the t"*p"ritrre at every read;ng
The water shoulci bc stirred continuaily throughout"
the experiment.

B When an experiment has been carried out and

results are compiete. ir is usualiy necessary to write a
report of y..,11s1 was done during the exoerinrent. The
report nrusi be in the pusr tense, and is usually
written in an impeisonal way. For exarrple,
Carrv our an experiment to investigate the
behar",ic,ur of waier when rt is cooied
Thrs is a direct instruction teiling us what to do. But
An experrment vras carried out to investigate the
behaviour of rivater as it is ccoled
This'is'an impersonal statement tefling us what was
done, Compare these two similar seniences:
Mix sonre ice anC salt together to form a freezing
rnixture.
lce and -salt were rnixed together to form a freezing

mixture.

117

that the experiment is conrplete and

Now, rmaglne
of the procedure Look
inrt to, are wriling a report cirange
tirem inio ihe
irr.f. ut the itrstruc"rions and was done
Do this iir
irr of a.report to say what
/aV
as in the exanlples above
e^actl1, the sanre \
given
belov"
ouiline
the
Follow

questions about tl-'e

Use this table to help you ask
written in B' Use
have
r.pou oi the experimeni yo'
the questions
1he oassaqe aDove rc help you answer

{or ihe cxPeriment

Irrsl

and
Some lce ----_.'''_.--..-=-mixturc.
Ireezing
form
a
r.'rith salt to
rn a large
This inrxturc --

---*

..-.the freezing mixture.

The water
readirrgs of the temPeratr-Jre

made

-to cool,

Youshouldnowhaveacompletepassagedescribing
how the experiment trras carried out'
,;r

s
fl

after ice iormed ?

from the results?

and

'r,rhen

O'C

,ntc

continuarr/
rhroughout the
The value of the lemPeratttre
at everY reaCing.
until the
The experirnent
temperature of 'the
-- 'rrrater was well below 0'C'
- caref'-rllY a-' the
The water
ternperature aPProached 0"C
anci the
10 The sirrring
{or sevcrai
temperature -.calorimeter
in
the
formed
ice
after
minutes
A graph of temperature against time
11
from the, tabulation of tl-1e results.
graph
and the observalrons which
Frorr the
12
durino the experirnent.
as to what
deciuctions
the temoeratui'e of waler ts
takes Piace

throughout the exPerimeni?

during the exPeriment?
as the temPerature aPProached

done
were

il:'L';;":-_-exPerimeni

lowered.

seci

\^/a s

What

co nta iner.

A small amount of hot water

into a calorimeter.
then
The calorinleter

next
then

Now use these two tables to ask and answer

qresfions about the experiment You a;'e asking the
out' and so
;;;;; why certain things were carrledorder
to' itt
you can begin y,rur. ans*ers w'ith " in
orcler not to. so as rc, or 'to as not to'

salt mixed irrith the ice?

a small quantitY o{ hot \rr'ater
a rnercurv thermometer used ?
the irvale: stlrreC continualltr ?
the thernrometei used to stir the
rva ter

the wate{ observed carefi-rllY arou nd

O:C
I

a graph Ploiied from the results?

unit

classwork
sectio n

The Hydrologic CYcle

The giobal system that supplies and rernoves water from the earth's surface is
known as the hvdrologic cycle (Figure 2-I). Water is transferred to the earh's atrrosphere through two plocesses'. (1) et'apor"ation and {2) transpirarion.lAs moist
air rises, it cools. Eventually enough moisture accumulates and the mass cools
sufficiently to nucleate (form small crystais) on microscopic particles. Sufficient
groli;th causes the droplets or snowflakes to become heavy enough to fall as precipitation. As they fall on the earth's surface, the droplets either run over the
gri',und into streams and rivers {swface rurzoffor justrunofi) or percolate into the
ground to form groundwater.

lTianspiration is the process whereby plant-s give off watei vapor thiough the pcres of their leaves.
The moisRrre comes from the roots thro,igh capillary action

l6)

t-r
(Snow)

'-;ffii"1

t5,

ransplratlon

Surface
@
- Runof{

---=-@

Evaporat

(3.) Ground *'ater Flou,

Surface Water Body

,ioiean

FIGURE 2.1
The hydrologic cycle.

frotn : trntraduction to Environmentsl Engineering, by,'Davis and Ccnlwell' 1991.

Reatling Cautprulrension

i. Whrrt are the processes of rtrnoltng w:lttr fronr tire earih's surface ?
lYhcn e','aflorated

an d

*mnspir*ts*m ater

tranjpireJ

\t lrat is tlre lxeatring *f

4.

Fjhat are the tn'o tbrms af precipitation

'ot+

nuclsatr"

coo ls ?

1,

What happens rvhen tht precipitation reache* the errrth's sulface

CLAY PREPARATION
The diagram below shows how clay is prepared.

TASK

Describe the process of preparing clay.

'/ou may use your own knowledge and experience in addition to the diagram.

*i
. ,j

Raw clay

Hopper
Rollers or crushers

Trough or mixer containing water

Mixed ctay
Fiotating blades
Rollers or'crushers

Cutting uble

Compression

l"r+i:t : Fi:fie#i:;

rnffk*,

The prsces$

r:1r,,

rit"*p; i:r*o :he

c!a3'

The cruslreqj
rr..-

*--

'i'} """

n:oe

Clay bricks

Column of clay

Kcnned3.,,3*tlith anrl Susan Hunsto;r, 198?.

or the

firis, the

Shaping

of mxking

st:tg*s. Tire

lntc the

[r-r-

trotrgh

is

brieks fr$m ra$,

c*nsisls of

is tral:sp*rtee! i;3' the

-rr.hsrc

ar

it

*nd

put

" ,,ift*r

:rnti

is

i;

iae

;rnd r::ired witll

by tfue

it is dropped i*** firr g*c*nti

*:' the

iit

*+sec**

f'or*1.

.i.he *ti:re{l

ag:*in. Aft+r that,

ancl

d:-*pped i:rt* i!::e

wl:erc

it

Fleieeg
F

:t t'*lumrt

${'_,

ilralh', the patseci clxl' besr:*r*ri the

*'ir*re it is

it

i:s

glis$srd

ent* th+

br!sk-s.

is

Tht c*:xprrssed

iE

is p:ess*d thrcuEh tfue

it