DK - WOW! The Visual Encyclopedia of Everything

The world today is constantly on the move. It is impossible to

imagine life without the planes, trains, ships, and cars that transport

people and goods, every day. Each of these incredible machines

has been specifically designed to travel over land, through the

air, and under or over the water.

Transport

BY ROAD ▼

Most road vehicles have an internal-combustion engine, which burns fuel to

make the power that turns the wheels. In a car, the engine is usually in the

front and drives either the front or the back wheels. In a motorbike, the

engine is placed between the two wheels.

BY AIR

▼

To travel through the air, aircraft must overcome the force of

gravity, which pulls them towards the ground. They achieve this

with the help of curved wings and rotors, which produce an

upward force called lift as they pass through the air.

Air entering

through the

radiator grille

helps to cool

the engine

Steering wheel

is connected to

rods that turn

the front wheels

Rubber tyres are

reinforced with

nylon, rayon, or steel

to strengthen them

Front wheel is

held between

two metal arms,

called forks

Curved shape reduces

the effect of air

resistance

Handlebars turn the

front wheel to steer

the motorbike

Wheels are made from

steel or an alloy of

steel or magnesium

Engine drives the

rear wheel of

the motorcycle

Waste gases from the

engine are pushed out

through the exhaust pipe

Suspension

springs soften

the impact of

bumps when

driving over

rough surfaces

As the rotor

blades turn

they generate

lift to pull the

helicopter upwards

Front landing

wheels

Elevator’s flaps control

the up-and-down

movement of the plane

Rudder flap on

the back of the

tail fin balances

plane as it turns

Arm, called a

pantograph,

picks up electric

power from

overhead cables

Trucks, called bogies, have four

or more wheels, and large shock-

absorbers to give a smooth ride

Audi R8 2008

Yamaha V-Max

UH-60 BlackHawk

Boeing 777-300ER

TGV A325

122

Hinged surfaces,

called ailerons, tilt the

plane to make it turn

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