Exercises

Vocabulary

1. Transcribe the words:

European, spaceflight, enthusiasts, rocketry, experiments, electricity, physics, electrical resistance, research, technology, achieve, solid-propellant, efficiency, powder, calculations, rocket, dynamics, liquid-propellant, accelerate, altitude, development, flight, velocity, propellant, consumption, gravity, missile

2. Explain in English and then translate the following words and expressions into Russian:

spaceflight, experiments, rocketry, solid-propellant gunpowder rockets, rocket dynamics, liquid-propellant rocket, powered vertical flight, optimal velocity, propellant consumption, liquid-propellant engines, exhaust velocities, propellant tanks, two-stage rocket, liquid oxygen

3. Match the words from the texts (1-5) with their synonyms (A-E):

1	word	A	synonym
2	velocity	B	container
3	gravity	C	speed
4	fuel	D	power
5	tank	E	weight

4. Match the words from the texts (1-10) with the definitions (A-J):

1	word	A	definition
2	efficiency	B	quickness of motion
3	velocity	C	the ratio of the kinetic energy of the expelled gases to the heat energy of the powder
4	exhaust	D	the act or process of utilization
5	consumption	E	a device used as an incendiary weapon or as a propelling unit
6	rocket	F	to empty by drawing off the contents
7	propellant	G	solid explosive
8	spaceflight	H	fuel plus oxidizer used by a rocket engine
9	powder	I	the rate of change of velocity with respect to time
10	acceleration	J	flight beyond the earth's atmosphere

5. Complete the text with the words from the box

rocketry	rockets	altitude	consumption
efficiency	dynamics	spaceflight	velocity
powder	accelerated	considered	propellant

Robert Goddard began his experiments in (1) while studying for his doctorate at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Goddard concentrated first on the study of solid-propellant gunpowder (2) and improving their efficiency. The term "(3)," introduced by Goddard, meant "the ratio of the kinetic energy of the expelled gases to the heat energy of the (4)". This famous treatise of Goddard, entitled "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes," outlined his ideas on rocketry and included detailed calculations of rocket (5) and results of his various tests.

In 1935 the first liquid-propellant rocket (6) to a speed faster than the speed of sound. Two years later, on 26 March 1937, the Goddard's rocket reached an (7) 8000 — 9000 ft (2400 — 2700 m). When he was 11 years old, Hermann had become fascinated by (8) after reading Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon.

In his book, Hermann Oberth focused on rocket dynamics. He (9) the powered vertical flight through the atmosphere and introduced a concept of the optimal velocity that minimizes propellant (10). He showed how a rocket could achieve the (11) allowing it to escape Earth's gravity. He described the details of liquid-propellant engines and calculated (12) exhaust velocities.