Vocabulary

Creative - творческий

Theatrical – театрализованное предст…

To equip – оборудовать

Graduate - выпускник

Wages –заработная плата

The Inventor of the Radio

Contemporary life is impossible without information network which keeps people informed on the topical events of the day. Radio, one of the most accessible mass media, was invented by Alexander Stepanovich Popov on May 7 /April 25 / 1895. So, in 1995 the whole world celebrated the 100 - year anniversary of this great invention.

A. Popov /l859-1906/ was the greatest Russian scientist and inventor. He was born in the family of a priest. First he studied at Perm Clergy Seminary. In 1882 he graduated from Petersburg University.

Alexander Popov possessed extensive knowledge of electrical theory and wide experience in this field. He was a unique man. Being a scientist he always carried on some practical work. He did much for the Russian Navy having introduced electricity in it.

Popov was one of the first to turn attention to the work of Hertz, a famous German scientist-physicist who proved experimentally the existence of electromagnetic waves. Popov used this discovery to construct a device, which was able to receive electromagnetic waves at a long distance. He called his device a radio-receiver.

The work of the receiver was based on the arc discharge principle. The receiver recorded waves generated by lightning discharges. The successful functioning of the device in practice proved its ability to catch electromagnetic oscillations in the atmosphere.

On May 7 /April 251 1895 A. Popov demonstrated his device at the Russian Physico-Chemical Society. It was a fundamentally new set transmitting signals at a distance by means of rapid electrical oscillations.

Popov constantly perfected his radio –receiver. The scientist found out experimentally that a free wire connected to his device increased the range of the latter. Thus he invented the first antenna in the world.

In summer 1895 he attached to the receiver an apparatus previously used for recording telegrams over the wire telegraph. In 1896 this perfected device was used for warning about approaching thunderstorm at the electric power station in Nizhny Novgorod.

Popov's wireless communication was used in the Naval Ministry. It became the basis of radiolocation for detecting battleships.

The year 1898 witnessed a new important invention made by Popov and his assistants Ribkin and Troitsky - the reception of audible signals by the receiver.

The great Russian inventor did not make any secret of his discovery, describing it in press, making reports about it. His invention excited interest all over the world. Popov was offered immense profits from foreign commercial organizations. But being a Russian patriot he turned down the riches offered to him. He preferred to serve his motherland.

The leading Russian scientists realized the significance of his invention but the fate of the country was not in their hands. The tsarist government did nothing for home production of his device and training specialists for the newly born brunch.

Only during and after the Great October revolution the new means of communication invented by Alexander Popov was widely used by the young Soviet government.

To invent – изобретать Priest - священник, жрец Clergy – духовенство Extensive – обширный, крупный Navy – военно - морской флот, адмиралтейство Introduce – вводить, внедрять Device – устройство Arc – электрическая дуга Discharge – эл. разряд Record – записывать, регистрировать Lightning – молния Oscillation - колебания To transmit – передавать, пересылать To perfect – усовершенствовать, улучшать

To attach – присоединить, прикрепить Apparatus – прибор, инструмент Warning – предупреждение Thunderstorm – гроза Wireless communication – беспроводная связь Battleship - линейный корабль, линкор To witness – засвидетельствовать Reception – получение, прием Audible - звуковой, слышимый Excite – возбудить Immense – огромный Profit – доход, прибыл Unique – единственный в своем роде, уникальный, бесподобный