2 Moon buggy Spy satellite ISS Communication satellite Space Probe Mars rover Deep space exploration Swamp buggy Safari jeep Ice tracker Polar vehicle Ice breaker Oil rig Supersonic aircraft Rocket 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 Contents traction SPRINGS FRICTION TiRE PRESSURE Wedge Screw Sonic boom Propulsion Battery MIRRORS PROTECTIVE CLOTHING GPS GRAVITY PARACHUTE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE ACTION
34 Submersible water pressure AUV scientific vessel 36 PROPELLERS 38 Submarine BALLAST TANKS 40 Robot ROBOTICS 42 Drone RADIO WAVES 44 Glossary 46 Index 48 Credits The further we wish to explore our planet the more adventurous we become the more we need amazing machines to help us These must be advanced strong capable of going long distances coping with rough ground and even perhaps taking photographs and collecting data and samples without the help of any human being on board These machines may operate on land in the sea or in the air They may carry just a single person or a whole crew They may be powered by some form of energy This may be electrical energy or chemical energy from fossil fuels such as gasoline Now let’s look at some of the cleverly-designed forms of transport that help us explore our own planet and those far off in space and the science that makes this possible 3
4 Swamp buggy ACTION What helps a swamp buggy move through swampy terrain
How do you explore land that’s thick with plants and covered in sticky mud and water This is swampland and one great way of travelling through it is by swamp buggy This vehicle can move over the thickest bog It uses large tires with paddle-like treads or caterpillar tracks wrapped round them These give the buggy excellent traction or grip in slippery conditions ANSWER TRACTION Traction describes how one object can grip onto another Many objects have rough edges which give them grip but on a slippery surface the traction may need to be increased This is done by adding grooves and ridges to the surface Some tires for example have ridges on them that act like paddles belt-like caterpillar track Wide caterpillar tracks or treads as they are known can have ridges or studs added to the surface to make them rougher and more able to grip studs 5
