Unit 4: Engineering
Engineering is based principally on physics, chemistry, and mathematics, and their extensions into materials science,
solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, transfer and rate processes, and systems analysis.
Engineering as a profession involves different tasks. It can refer specifically to the manufacture or assembly of engines,
machine tools and machine parts. It is also used more generally to describe the creative application of scientific
principles to design, develop, construct and forecast the behaviour of structures, apparatus, machines,
manufacturing processes and works.
The function of scientists is to know, while that of engineers is to do: they must solve specific problems,
Different branches of engineering require different equipment and are based on different processes,
Unit 4: Engineering
Branches of engineering
The following words/phrases are all followed by 'engineering'
chemical • civil • electrical • electronic • highway hydraulic • industrial mechanical • mining • petroleum
production • production • structural
Equipment in engineering
boiler • crane • gas engine • machine tool • pump • turbine
Processes in treating metals
anneal • anodize • electroplate • forge • found • galvanize • grind harden • mint • plate • roll • soften
• temper • tinplate
Unit 4: Engineering
Notice the following adjective endings:
-al • chemical • mechanical • physical • structural
-ial • industrial
-ic • electronic • hydraulic
Notice the following verb endings:
•en harden • soften
-ize • anodize • galvanize
Notice the following nouns which are a plural form but are normally used with a singular verb
athernatics • mechanics • physics • thermodynamics
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Unit 4: Engineering
asks
Match the following verbs with the correct definition
anneal to melt metal and then pour it into a form, e.g. iron components
anodize to make thin sheets of metal by passing it between large rollers, e.g. steel
electroplate to shape metals by heating and then hammering, e.g. horse shoes
to make materials tough by cooling them slowly, e.g. glass
forge found
to make something softer, e.g. fibres to heat and then cool metals to obtain the required hardness
galvanize and elasticity, e.g. steel
to cover with a thin layer of metal using electrolysis, e.g. car components
grind
to protect from rusting by coating in zinc, e.g. food cans
roll plate
to give a metal a protective coat by using it as an anode in electrolysis,
e.g. car components
soften temper to polish or sharpen by rubbing on a rough surface, e.g. stone
to cover one metal with a thin layer of another, e.g. silver plate
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Unit 4: Engineering
asks
Use the word in brackets to form a word which fits in the sentence.
1 In the …………….industry,………….. develop processes for producing plastics, fibres, medicines, etc. from
simple chemicals. (chemistry)
2 Producing steel using the Bessemer process is one of the best-known……………. processes. (industry)
3 Most ………………….. devices need oil as a lubricant. (mechanics)
4 Following the earthquake, every building had to be inspected to see whether it had suffered………………any
damage. (structure)
5 Certain chemicals are added to glue to………………… it. (hard)
6 Excavators and power shovels are two types of ……………equipment used by………………. when they are
removing rocks from the ground. (mine)
Unit 4: Engineering
machines • highway • mechanical • chemical • civil • physics • electrical • develop • production • electronic
Engineering students should have an understanding of maths, (a)…………..and chemistry. Working with pharmaceuticals,
food, mineral processing and chemical manufacturing, a (b) ………….. engineer is trained to understand, design, control, and
investigate material flows. If you enjoy problem solving and find projects such as the Channel Tunnel and the Three Gorges
Dam interesting, (c)………….. engineering may be for you. You will produce creative designs at an economical price while
paying due concern to the environment. If your interest is in road building then you may decide to follow a specialized course
in (d)………. engineering. By studying (e)……… and (f)….…. engineering you learn about the design of complete systems,
such as computers, controllers, power and transport systems. (g)………… engineers plan, design and (h)…………. a wide
range of things: washing machines, cars and spacecraft. (i)………….. engineers work very closely with mechanical
engineers, to make new products at the right price, on time and in the correct quantity. As well as designing and selecting (j)
and materials, they also organize people and finance.