homework encyclopedia

200 Science and Technology

Many people live in one place, but work in another.

At local supermarkets, people buy products from other

countries. Modern transport – the movement of people

and. FREIGHT by land, sea, and air – lets us travel all

over the world with great speed.

WHAT IS A TRANSPORT SYSTEM?

Road, rail, sea, and air transport link together to make

an integrated transport system. A package sent from

the UK can be delivered 24 hours later to an address

in the USA. A courier collects the package and takes

it by road to the airport. The freight plane flies

overnight to the USA. Its cargo is sorted, and the

package travels onwards by rail, then road.

HOW EFFICIENT ARE DIFFERENT FORMS

OF TRANSPORT?

The most fuel-efficient way to transport people and

goods is by sea, but journey times are long. Rail is the

next most efficient, and safe. Flying is the fastest, but

least efficient. The most efficient transport for short

journeys is by bicycle or on foot – both are pollution-

free, suffer few delays, and keep you fit as you travel.

WHAT IS A SCIENTIST’S ROLE IN TRANSPORT?

Scientists and engineers seek solutions to transport

problems. They try to reduce. CONGESTION and

pollution, and improve. ROAD SAFETY. They also

work with governments to introduce new scanning

equipment to improve security and stop the

smuggling of illegal goods across borders.

2 AIR TRAFFIC

Demand for air travel is so

great that a busy airport can

operate flights every minute,

24 hours a day. This can create

disturbing noise pollution for

people living along the flight

path. Night flights are

restricted, or banned

completely, at many airports.

1 CYCLE PATH

In some cities, dedicated cycle paths keep cyclists and motor vehicles

in separate lanes, making cycling safer and more enjoyable.

Transport

Fuselage (aircraft

body) is made

from strong but

lightweight alloys

such as aluminium

Flight deck,

where the pilot

and co-pilot fly

the plane

HOW ARE AIRCRAFT CONTROLLED IN THE AIR?

The pilot and crew use flight deck computers to fly

the plane, and radar screens to show their position,

and weather conditions ahead. Air traffic controllers

on the ground give pilots permission to take off and

land, issue flight paths, and make sure that no aircraft

come within 16 km (10 miles) of one another

horizontally, or 310 m (1,000 ft) vertically.

Turbofan engines

power the plane at

more than 805 km/h

(500 mph)

Ground crew

guides plane

into its

docking bay

transport