1. Transportation Technology

2. Learning Standards 6. Transportation Technologies
Transportation technologies are systems and devices that move goods and people from one place to another across or through land, air, water, or space.
6.1 Identify and compare examples of transportation systems and devices that operate on or in each of the following: land, air, water, and space.
6.2 Given a transportation problem, explain a possible solution using the universal systems model.
6.3 Identify and describe three subsystems of a transportation vehicle or device, i.e., structural, propulsion, guidance, suspension, control, and support.

3. Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the lesson the student will be able to:
Define Transportation technology
Compare & contrast land, air, water & space transportation
Use the Universal Systems Model of technology to explain a transportation system
Describe a transportation system & it’s subsystems 3

4. Transportation Technology
Systems & devices that move goods & people from one place to another across or through…
Land
Air
Water
Space
System:
A group of parts that work together in an organized way to complete a task
Device:
Something made for a particular purpose

5. Personal Transportation
Land Transportation
Personal Transportation
Cars, Motorcycles, Bicycles
Moves individuals or small groups of people
People purchase & maintain their own vehicles
People control their own schedules
Mass Transportation
Buses, Trains, Subways
Moves many people at one time & available to the general public
Companies purchase & maintain the vehicles
Operates on a set schedule

6. Mass Transportation Tradeoffs of using Mass Transportation:
Positives
Reduces Traffic
Saves fuel
Better for environment
Negatives
Slower
Less convenient
Less personal freedom
Mass Transportation is not as popular in the US as in other countries

7. Trains Railroads earn most of their money transporting freight
Large/heavy items are usually carried by train

8. Trains Trains also carry passengers
Intercity passenger railroad in the US is operated by AMTRAK
Less than 1% of all intercity passengers in the US travel by train

9. Trains
In some countries - trains carry up to 50% of intercity passengers

10. High Speed Trains All-electric Travel at 125 - 200 mph
Called “Bullet Trains” because of their pointed shape
Popular in Europe & Asia
The first one in the US was the Acela Express (AMTRAK) - began use in 2000
Travel from Boston to Washington DC in 6 1/2 hours

11. Trains
Commuter trains & subways transport people in & around major cities

12. Maglev Trains
Magnetic Levitation - Train doesn’t touch the track - no wheels
Propelled by magnets
Floats 1 inch above it’s track so it provides a very smooth, quiet, fast ride (270 MPH)
Only a few experimental tracks have been built in the US because....
They are expensive to build & train travel is not popular in the US

13. Trucks Transport much of our country’s freight
Trucks can go directly from the supply location to the customer

14. Trucks
Trucks are not very aerodynamic because of their size & shape so they use a lot of fuel
Since fuel cost is passed on to the consumer it is important make trucks as aerodynamic as possible
Wind Deflectors
help save fuel by reducing air resistance (Drag)

15. Water Transportation Passenger ships/boats transport people
Water has provided transportation routes for centuries
Passenger ships/boats transport people
Cargo ships transport things (oil, grain, iron ore, automobiles, etc.)

16. Ships
Water transportation is usually the least expensive way to transport goods
Therefore... Ships deliver most of the overseas cargo leaving or entering the US

17. Air Transportation
Airplanes: the most important part of our air transportation system

18. Air Transportation
Air is the most complex transportation system because so many planes are in the air at one time
The government controls air travel (FAA)

19. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
The Wright Brothers
First manned airplane flight
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
December 17, 1903

20. Airplane Travel Today
In response to public demand for air travel planes can now carry 500+ passengers
Powerful engines allow them to carry a lot of fuel which means that they can stay in the air for long periods of time

21. Cargo Planes Some planes carry only cargo
Cannot carry as much cargo as a ship or train
Transporting goods by air is very expensive
Usually only lightweight items (electronics or mail) are shipped by air

22. Helicopters
Aircraft with one or two rotors that allow it to lift straight up
Helicopters can reach places that other types of transportation cannot
Used for:
Pipeline inspections
Delivering parts to construction sites
Checking auto traffic
Transporting people to hospitals