Object Descriptions and Mechanics Vocabulary
Describing an Object
Key vocabulary:
- Thickness: grosor
- Depth: profundo
- Height: altura
- Width: ancho
- Steel: acero
- Wood: madera
- Rubber: goma
- Copper (solid): macizo
- Iron: hierro
Examples:
- A solid wooden block has a height of 5cm, a length of 10cm, and a width of 4cm.
- A hollow aluminum block is 0.72cm long, 0.2cm thick, and 0.32cm wide.
Mechanical Actions
Block B rests on a slope. A string is attached to one end of the block and passes over a pulley at the top of the slope. A weight (W) is suspended from the end of the string. When the block slides down the slope, it pulls the string and raises the weight. At the same time, the pulley rotates in a clockwise direction.
Thistle Funnel Vocabulary
Common prepositions and adverbs related to position and direction:
- In
- Top
- Bottom
- Through
- Below
- Into
- Inverted
- Above
- Over
- A long
- Up
- Down
- Falls
Prepositions and Adverbs
Prepositions of Place
- Of: For things or places.
- On: Used with days of the week, dates, and holidays.
- At: Used with times and holidays.
- In: Used with months, years, seasons, parts of the day, and periods of time.
- Between: Delante de (in front of).
- Behind: Detrás de.
Time Expressions
- For: Durante (during).
- While: Mientras (while).
Quantity Expressions
- Many: Used mostly in negative and interrogative sentences.
- A few: Un poco (a little), used with countable nouns.
- Any: Used for countable nouns in the singular and plural, but only in negative or interrogative sentences.
Relative Pronouns
| Pronoun | Spanish | People | Things |
| That | Que | X | X |
| Which | Que/Cual | X | |
| Who | Que/Quien | X | |
| Whom | Que, a quien | X | |
| Whose | Cuyo | X | X |
Time: When. Place: Where.
Job Description: Chief Mechanic
The chief mechanic is responsible for maintaining all the mechanical equipment on the oil rig. He repairs the diesel generators and maintains every machine on the rig. He checks all the equipment daily and makes sure that all machines are in good working order. He inspects broken equipment and orders replacement parts and new tools. Most of the time, he works outside or on deck. The chief mechanic reports to the rig maintenance manager and supervises a small crew of two assistant mechanics and two motormen. He normally has a two-weeks-on/two-weeks-off schedule.
Job Description: Secretary
She works in an office. She takes a lift upstairs every day to go to the office. She has to organize papers and documents for the chief. She has to take telephone calls and inform other people. She writes the meetings and events in the agenda.
Formula 1 Pit Stop Actions
- Wheel-jack: Place the jacks under the front and rear of the car. Raise the car off the ground. Wait. Lower the car to the ground. Take the jacks away.
- Wheel-gun: Loosen the wheel nuts on the old wheels. Wait. Tighten the wheel nuts on the new wheels. Raise hands to signal that it’s okay.
- Wheel-off: Take the old wheels off. Take the wheels away.
- Wheel-on: Bring out the new wheels. Adjust the air pressure of the tires. Wait. Take the covers off the new wheels. Put the new wheels on the car.
- Fuel: Push the nozzle into the fuel socket of the car. Pump fuel into the car. Pull out the fuel nozzle. Clean the fuel.
Murata Boy Robot
Murata Boy weighs less than 5kg and is only 508mm tall, but it can do something that no other robot can do: it can ride a bike. How does it do this? By means of sensors and wireless technology. One sensor is located in the robot’s body. This sensor keeps the robot upright and prevents it from falling sideways. The robot can look ahead using a small camera in its chest. This sensor prevents it from hitting a wall or other object. The robot can receive instructions from an external computer by means of a wireless receiver in the box on its back. The computer makes it follow the correct road. Finally, if the road is not flat, another sensor (in the frame of the bike) can feel the movement of the wheel. The sensor allows the robot to ride over bumps in the road.