Fundamental concepts of nanotechnology

Read and translate the text.

Fundamental concepts of nanotechnology

Unit III

1. Practice the following words:

Cellular ['selјələ], bacteria [bæk'tiəriə], scenario [si'na:riəu], diameter [dai'æmitə].

2. Study the vocabulary list:

DNA – ДНК

сellular – клеточный

double-helix – двойная винтовая спираль

Mycoplasma – микоплазма

top-down – сверху вниз

bottom-up – снизу вверх

genus – род

bacteria – бактерия

outcome – результат

approach – подход

entities – объекты

to evolve - развивать

One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 10⁻⁹, of a meter. By comparison, typical carbon-carbon bond lengths, or the spacing between these atoms in a molecule, are in the range 0.12–0.15 nm, and a DNA double-helix has a diameter around 2 nm. On the other hand, the smallest cellular life-forms, the bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma, are around 200 nm in length. To put that scale in another context, the comparative size of a nanometer to a meter is the same as that of a marble to the size of the earth. Or another way of putting it: a nanometer is the amount a man's beard grows in the time it takes him to raise the razor to his face. This analogy is clearly subjective to specific scenario and also situational differences that may change the outcome of the event. So the speed at which is stated is just an example of an "average" that can measure the speed. Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology. In the "bottom-up" approach, materials and devices are built from molecularcomponents which assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition. In the "top-down" approach, nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control. Areas of physics such as nanoelectronics, nanomechanics and nanophotonics have evolved during the last few decades to provide a basic scientific foundation of nanotechnology.

4. Insert the prepositions into the following sentences:

1) One nanometer is one billionth … a meter.

2) A DNA double-helix has a diameter … 2 nm.

3) The bacteria … the genus Mycoplasma is … 200 nm … length.

4) There are two main approaches used … nanotechnology.

5) Materials and devices are built … molecular components which assemble themselves chemically … principles … molecular recognition … the "bottom-up" approach.

6) … the "top-down" approach, nano-objects are constructed … larger entities … atomic-level control.

5. Translate the following into Russian:

One billionth of a meter; a DNA double-helix; the smallest cellular life-forms; the bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma; to build materials and devices from molecular components; to assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition; to be constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control.

6. Answer the following questions:

1) What is the size of nanometer to a meter?

2) Which diameter has a DNA double helix?

3) What is the length of the bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma?

4) Which approaches are used in nanotechnology?

5) What is the difference between the approaches?