Practical knowledge is a bit underrated. It took me far too many years to learn how water treatment works, and when I did, I found it pretty interesting. Also, if you drive or plan to drive, it comes in handy to know about basic car systems.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE: TECHNOLOGY
Internal combustion engine: The type of engine that powers most vehicles. It works when the vehicle’s battery powers its spark plugs, which ignite a mixture of air and gasoline, causing small explosions. These explosions produce gases that expand rapidly and push against pistons on cylinders, which go up and down as gases expand and contract. Rods connected to the pistons convert that movement into the power that eventually turns the wheels.
Exhaust system: The system that is part of an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle that carries burned gases from the engine to the muffler, which then cools the gases and reduces their pressure
Catalytic converter: The device in an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle that uses chemicals to reduce exhaust pollution
Power train: The parts of an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle that transmit power from the engine to the wheels, including the transmission, which uses gears to reduce or increase the speed and power of the engine and the drive shaft, which carries the power from the transmission to the axle which connects the wheels
Water treatment facility: A facility that receives and treats water from the sewer system and sends out clean potable water to be distributed. Water treatment begins with the addition of chemicals known as coagulants, which cause small particles and impurities in the water to clump together, forming larger particles called flocs. After coagulation, the water enters a sedimentation basin or tank, where the flocs settle down to the bottom due to gravity and are removed later. The water is then filtered in several layers to remove finer particles, then disinfected with chlorine, ozone, UV light or other disinfectants. The water’s pH level might also be altered and other processes completed before it is sent into the distribution pipes.
Dam: A barrier built across a river that either redirects the water to narrow channels, creating high-pressure water currents, or creates a reservoir from which water is redirected to narrow channels. From there, the water currents power turbines, which power electricity generators.
Turbine: A machine that helps convert mechanical energy, such as from strong winds or diverted water channels, into electrical energy. It does this by rotating its blades when winds or water move over it, which causes the rotor in the generator to also rotate, which then creates electrical current.
Solar panel: Devices that contain solar cells made of silicon that convert sunlight into electricity
Nuclear power: The energy that comes from nuclear fission
Nuclear weapons: Bombs that produce uncontrolled nuclear reactions. Atomic bombs are created through nuclear fission, whereas hydrogen bombs are created through both fission and fusion and are more destructive.
Nuclear reactor: A device used to initiate and control nuclear reactions, specifically nuclear fission, to generate heat. The heat produced is then harnessed to generate electricity.
Radioactivity: The state that occurs when a substance’s atoms release nuclear energy as radiation
Steel: A alloy of iron, carbon and traces of other metals
Crude oil/petroleum: The raw material from which fuels like oil, fuel, gas are obtained. It is a fossil fuel that is often found in rock reservoirs under the seabed.
Plastic: An easily-molded synthetic polymers made from the organic compounds found in crude oil.
Polymer: A substance made of many small molecules joined together to make long chains. Some are synthetic (nylon), while others are natural (hair, rubber, wool, silk, etc.).
In vitro fertilization (IVF): A process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb, in vitro.
Medical imaging: Creating images of the internal organs to help diagnose and treat disease
CT scan: Computed tomography scan. Formerly CAT scan. Uses computer-processed combinations of many X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images of internal organs.
MRI scan: Magnetic resonance imaging. Uses magnets and radio waves (not X-rays, as CT scans do) to create images of the internal organs.
Laser surgery: Laser surgery is a type of surgery that uses a laser (in contrast to using a scalpel) to cut tissue.
Laser: Machine that creates a beam of intense pure color of one wavelength and frequency. Its waves are coherent—travel in step with each other and stay in a narrow beam. Lots of energy is transported in a small space.
Gyroscope: A rotating device used for navigation and other purposes that consists of a spinning wheel or disk mounted on an axis within a frame. When the wheel spins rapidly, it resists external forces that might otherwise change its position.
Generator: A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy using a turbine driven by steam, water, wind, or another source of kinetic energy. When the rotor rotates within the magnetic field provided by the stator, the changing magnetic flux induces voltage across the coils of the rotor.
Galvanizing: Covering metal with zinc. This is sometimes done to machine parts for additional protection and strength.
Hydrometer: A device used to measure the specific gravity (relative density) of a liquid by its level of flotation
Rocket: An engine that burns fuel to achieve thrust and lift a spacecraft
Astronaut: Someone who goes to space to work. They fly space shuttles, fix parts of the space station or satellites, do scientific experiments on the space station and more. Some of their training is done underwater to simulate space conditions.
Space shuttle: A rocket-powered spacecraft developed by NASA that brought astronauts and supplies to the ISS and other satellites, then returned to Earth as an airplane. Booster rockets and fuel tanks fell off after they were used. The crew compartment, located at the top of the shuttle, held the flight deck and other areas for working and sleeping. The shuttle was replaced with different spacecrafts.
Hubble Space Telescope: A big telescope with a camera that orbits Earth and takes clear photos of deep space from outside our atmosphere. It is powered by solar panels and has orbited Earth since 1990.
Space walk: A trip taken by an astronaut outside the space station or space shuttle, into empty space, to check or repair equipment. A strong spacesuit regulates the astronaut’s temperature and carries air.
International Space Station (ISS): The series of connected rooms, compartments and solar panels in space where astronauts live and work. It is located 230 miles above Earth. On the station, all water (including pee) is recycled. Many scientific experiments are conducted there.
Satellite: Any object in space that orbits a planet or the sun other than planets and moons. These include natural ones, such as asteroids, as well as man-made ones that are used to investigate space and carry radio signals around Earth.
Space probe: A robot that explores other planets and moons. Some space probes even leave our solar system and carry information about Earth, looking for other life forms.
Flight simulator: A replica of the inside of an airplane that allows pilots to practice flying the aircraft
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