Transportation has changed over time; the changes have historically been in response to the needs of society and the advancements in technology. As technology improves and the ideas of those working within the transportation industry expand, the changes to the types of transportation available for human use are phenomenal.

The invention of the wheel (between 3500-4500 BC) changed transportation. When fixed to carts, the wheel was used to help move goods and people in a more efficient manner.

Modern advancements have led to the creation of various types of transportation; the plug-in hybrid vehicle is an example of how technological innovation meets the current needs and demands of society. As Americans demanded vehicles that were less dependent on gasoline, car companies began researching ways to develop cars to meet the demand. Hybrid cars, such as the one pictured below, are a result.

Click on the link below to learn more about this automobile through a series of short videos.

Chevy Volt Electric Car Videos

Activity

After viewing the “Explain” clip, describe in your own words how this car works. Describe how this vehicle meets the demand to use less gasoline. How do you think this vehicle impacts the environment?

Record your answers in your notes.

Take a look at the timeline below to see the changes in transportation over time. Click on each image to enlarge each item and read more about it. Complete the activities that follow.

Think about the examples of transportation that you just learned about on the timeline. Many of these vehicles emit toxins and pollutants. As transportation and its networks progressed, air pollution increased. This is an example of how transportation impacts the physical environment. Air pollution is not the only evidence of transportation’s impact on the physical environment. Look at the image below. How can a bicycle modify the environment?

The invention of the bicycle and its increased use led to the creation of bike trails.

→ Consider this: As more people used vehicles with fixed wheels, they had to make changes to the environment to accommodate these vehicles.

For example, Henry Ford’s production of the Model T during the 1920s not only created a system of mass production of the automobile, but it also helped change the landscape of America. Scroll over the image below to find examples of how the Model T impacted the physical environment.

Look at the images below and think about how the type of transportation impacts the physical environment. (Hint: Think about how the physical environment had to be changed to accommodate the type of transportation pictured.) Write a brief description of each image in your notes.

Now that you have learned more about transportation and its impact on the physical environment, continue to the next section to learn more about energy.