Transport
30 questions tagged Transport — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
How Do Electric Cars Work?
Electric cars use rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs to power electric motors that drive the wheels, replacing the internal combustion engine.
When was the bicycle invented?
The first two-wheeled bicycle, Karl Drais’s pedal-less “running machine”, was first ridden in 1817.
Which is the busiest train station in the world?
Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, which handled around 3.5 million passengers a day before the pandemic.
Which city has the largest metro system?
Shanghai and Beijing, each with more than 800 km of lines, trade the title of the world’s largest metro by route length.
Which country has the most airports?
The United States, with well over 13,000 airports and airfields, several times more than any other country.
Whose invention was the car?
Karl Benz is credited with the first practical petrol-powered car, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, patented in 1886.
How do maglev trains work?
Maglev trains use powerful magnets to lift the train slightly above the track and to push it forward, removing wheel friction and allowing very high speeds.
How do helicopters fly?
A helicopter’s spinning rotor blades act as rotating wings that create lift, and the pilot tilts them to move in any direction, including hovering.
How do hot air balloons fly?
Burners heat the air inside the balloon, making it less dense than the cooler air outside, so the balloon rises like a bubble in water.
When Was the First Electric Car Built?
Early electric carriages appeared in the 1830s, with practical electric cars emerging by the 1880s.
Where Is the World's Busiest Airport?
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest by passenger numbers for decades.
Where Is the World's Longest Railway?
The Trans-Siberian Railway, spanning 9,289 km across Russia, is the longest railway line.
How Does a Hydrofoil Boat Work?
Underwater wing-shaped foils generate lift as speed increases, raising the hull out of the water to reduce drag dramatically.
Why do bicycles stay upright when moving?
A moving bike steers itself into any lean thanks to its geometry and mass distribution, and the rider makes constant tiny corrections.
Why do the British drive on the left?
Keeping left dates back to times when travellers wanted their right hand free to greet or defend against people approaching.
Which Train Holds the World Speed Record?
Japan's L0 Series maglev holds the train speed record of 603 km/h, set on 21 April 2015.
Which Is the Longest Non-Stop Commercial Flight?
Singapore Airlines' service between Singapore and New York JFK is the longest regular non-stop flight, covering about 15,300 kilometres in roughly 18 to 19 hours.
Which Was the Largest Ship Ever Built?
The supertanker Seawise Giant, completed in 1979, was the longest ship ever built at 458.45 metres.
Which Aircraft Has the Largest Wingspan?
The Stratolaunch Roc has the largest wingspan of any aircraft ever flown, at about 117 metres.
How Do Canal Locks Raise and Lower Boats?
A canal lock is a chamber with gates at each end; filling or emptying it with water lifts or lowers a boat between different water levels.
How Do Bicycles Stay Upright?
Bicycles stay upright mainly because the rider and the bike's geometry keep steering the front wheel into any lean, bringing the wheels back under the centre of mass.
How Do Traffic Lights Detect Cars?
Many traffic lights detect vehicles using wire loops buried in the road that sense the metal of a car, while others use cameras, radar or sensors.
When did the Channel Tunnel open?
The Channel Tunnel linking England and France was officially opened on 6 May 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand.
What is the Suez Canal?
The Suez Canal is a man-made waterway in Egypt that links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It opened in 1869 and is a major shortcut for global shipping.
What is the transcontinental railroad?
The transcontinental railroad was the U.S. railway line that connected the East Coast rail network to the Pacific Coast. It was completed in 1869.
What is a monorail?
A monorail is a railway system in which the train runs on a single rail or beam. It is often used for airport links, urban transit, or amusement attractions.
Which airport is the busiest in the world by passenger traffic?
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has often been the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. It has handled more than 100 million passengers in strong recovery years.
How do electric cars move without a petrol engine?
Electric cars use a battery to power an electric motor that turns the wheels. The motor converts electrical energy directly into motion with high efficiency.
How do railways keep trains on the track at high speed?
Trains stay on track because steel wheels and rails are shaped to guide the train, and the wheel flanges help prevent derailment. The conical shape of the wheels also helps trains self-center on straight track and navigate curves.
How does a hovercraft work?
A hovercraft floats on a cushion of air: powerful fans blow air underneath it, trapped by a flexible skirt, lifting the craft so it can glide over water, land, mud and ice.