Walking, cycling and vehicles
To reach a shop 1 km away you can walk, ride a bicycle or take an autorickshaw. Each way takes a different time and effort.
Transport (वाहतूक) means carrying people and goods from one place to another; each mode has advantages and disadvantages.
Rule 1: Try this — Choose a place 1 km from home. Go there on day one by walking, day two by bicycle and day three by automobile, with the school bag and by the same route. Note the time, labour and fuel. Walking takes the most time and labour. A vehicle saves time and effort, but automobiles need fuel, which causes air and noise pollution.
In the figure : In the figure faster vehicles save time and effort but need fuel.
- Easy : Easy: Walking takes the most time.
- Medium : Medium: At 5 km/h, 1 km takes 12 minutes; at 15 km/h it takes 4 minutes.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name an advantage and a disadvantage of an automobile.
Rule 2: Sailing ships — In olden days ships had no engines. They had sails (शिडे) to catch the force of the wind and were called sailing ships. People travelled all over the world on them.
In the figure : In the figure old ships had no engines; sails used the force of the wind.
- Easy : Easy: Sails catch wind.
- Medium : Medium: Sailing ships need wind; no wind, no travel.
- Exam-type : Exam: Which energy did sailing ships use?
Walking: slow, tiring. Vehicles: fast, need fuel. Sailing ships used wind.
Thinking the fastest mode is always best. It may pollute and cost fuel.
Memory clue: "जलद = इंधन, चालणे = आरोग्य".
Spot the difference
| Mode | Good point | Bad point |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Healthy, free | Slow, tiring |
| Bicycle | Cheap, clean | Needs effort |
| Automobile | Fast | Fuel, pollution |
Practice questions
- 1What is transport?
- 2Which mode takes the most time?
- 3What do automobiles need?
- 4What did old ships use instead of engines?
- 5What force did sails use?
- 6Name one disadvantage of vehicles.
- 7A bicycle goes 12 km in one hour. How far in 3 hours?
- 8Which is best for a 300 m trip: walking or a car? Why?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Carrying people and goods from place to place.
- 2Walking.
- 3Fuel.
- 4Sails.
- 5The wind.
- 6Pollution.
- 712 × 3 = 36 km.
- 8Walking; it saves fuel and is healthy.
Advantages of modern transport
You can get strawberries from the hills, fish from the coast and a letter from another country in a few days. Transport brings far things near.
Modern transport saves time and effort, links places and helps trade.
Rule 1: Advantages of modern transport — In today's high-speed world we depend on many modes of travel and goods transport. Work is done sooner; time and effort are saved; trade is easier; different parts of the world are connected; global transport of goods is easy; many things are easily available so lifestyle improves; tourism, health and education services have become faster.
In the figure : In the figure transport has brought the world closer.
- Easy : Easy: A train saves time.
- Medium : Medium: An ambulance gets a patient to hospital faster.
- Exam-type : Exam: List four advantages.
Rule 2: Examples of benefit — Fruit grown in one state reaches another state fresh by truck and train. Students reach schools in distant towns, doctors reach villages, and tourists reach distant places. Because of various means of transport, the world has come closer.
- Easy : Easy: Trucks carry fruit.
- Medium : Medium: A trip that took 4 days now takes 1 day, saving 3 days.
- Exam-type : Exam: Transport helps education and health.
Modern transport: faster work, trade, links, better life.
Thinking transport has only benefits. It has costs too (next sections).
Memory clue: "वेळ, श्रम, व्यापार, जोडणी".
Spot the difference
| Area | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Trade | Goods move easily |
| Health | Quick help |
| Tourism | Distant places reached |
Practice questions
- 1Name two advantages of transport.
- 2What does transport connect?
- 3How does it help health?
- 4How does it help trade?
- 5Who gains from tourism transport?
- 6How has the world become closer?
- 7A truck carries 8 tonnes. How many tonnes by 5 trucks?
- 8Which transport is best for carrying heavy goods across sea?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Saves time and helps trade.
- 2Different parts of the world.
- 3Patients reach hospitals quickly.
- 4Goods reach markets quickly.
- 5Tourists and local people.
- 6Many fast means of transport.
- 78 × 5 = 40 tonnes.
- 8Ship.
Air pollution due to vehicles
Stand near a busy road for five minutes and your nose, eyes and ears will tell you: smoke, noise and a burning smell. Vehicles give out more than speed.
Burning fuel gives out smoke and poisonous gases, which cause air pollution (वायुप्रदूषण).
Rule 1: What vehicles give out — Because of burning fuel, vehicles constantly emit smoke and poisonous gases, mainly carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, and tiny particles of carbon and lead. An excess of these lowers the quality of air. This is air pollution.
In the figure : In the figure burning fuel releases smoke and poisonous gases into the air.
- Easy : Easy: Smoke from a bus pollutes air.
- Medium : Medium: Three gases are named: CO, NO₂, SO₂.
- Exam-type : Exam: What is air pollution?
Rule 2: Traffic jams — Where there are traffic jams, air and noise pollution of that area increase. Our environment is sensitive, so pollution has destructive effects.
- Easy : Easy: A jam means more smoke.
- Medium : Medium: 100 idling vehicles give out more than 10.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why are traffic jams bad for air?
Fuel burning → CO, NO₂, SO₂, carbon and lead particles → air pollution.
Thinking only factories pollute air. Vehicles do too.
Memory clue: "कार्बन-नायट्रोजन-सल्फर = धुराचे तीन वायू".
Spot the difference
| Gas | Source |
|---|---|
| Carbon monoxide | Burning fuel |
| Nitrogen dioxide | Vehicle smoke |
| Sulphur dioxide | Vehicle smoke |
Practice questions
- 1What is air pollution?
- 2Name two poisonous gases from vehicles.
- 3What causes vehicle smoke?
- 4What particles are released with the gases?
- 5Where does pollution increase?
- 6Why is our environment called sensitive?
- 730 vehicles pass each minute. How many in 10 minutes?
- 8Why should engines be switched off at a red light?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Harmful substances lowering the quality of air.
- 2Carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide.
- 3Burning of fuel.
- 4Carbon and lead.
- 5Where there are traffic jams.
- 6Pollution quickly harms it.
- 730 × 10 = 300.
- 8To save fuel and reduce smoke.
Harmful effects of transport
A loud horn near a hospital makes patients restless. A smoky bus makes your eyes burn. A speeding vehicle can injure someone. Transport has costs.
Air pollution, noise and accidents from transport harm people, plants and animals.
Rule 1: Harm to people and plants — Air pollution causes disorders of the trachea, lungs and eyes (eyes burn). Leaves of plants shrivel and fall, sprouts get scorched and growth is affected.
In the figure : In the figure pollution and noise from traffic harm people, plants and animals.
- Easy : Easy: Smoke makes eyes burn.
- Medium : Medium: Polluted leaves shrivel.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name three harms of air pollution.
Rule 2: Forests, noise and accidents — Constant traffic through forests harms the habitat of plants and animals, and wild animals begin to migrate. The constant noise of vehicles causes restlessness, irritability, headaches, poor concentration and psychological disorders. Traffic accidents cause injuries, deaths and damage to vehicles.
- Easy : Easy: Noise causes headaches.
- Medium : Medium: A road in a forest forces animals to move.
- Exam-type : Exam: Accidents cause injury and death.
Harms: air (lungs, eyes, plants), forests, noise, accidents.
Thinking noise is harmless. It harms health.
Memory clue: "हवा, आवाज, अपघात, अधिवास".
Spot the difference
| Harm | Who suffers |
|---|---|
| Smoke | Lungs, eyes, plants |
| Noise | Mind and sleep |
| Forest roads | Wild animals |
Practice questions
- 1Which body parts does air pollution harm?
- 2What happens to plant leaves?
- 3How does forest traffic harm animals?
- 4Name two effects of noise.
- 5What do accidents cause?
- 6Why should we not honk near hospitals?
- 7A road had 20 accidents last year and 15 this year. By how many did they fall?
- 8What simple rule makes roads safer for children?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Trachea, lungs and eyes.
- 2They shrivel and fall.
- 3It harms their habitat so they migrate.
- 4Headache and irritability.
- 5Injuries and deaths.
- 6Noise disturbs patients.
- 720 − 15 = 5.
- 8Cross at zebra crossings and obey signals.
Remedies and the bicycle
If a friend lives 800 m away, why take a car? Walking or cycling costs nothing and keeps you fit. Small habits can cut big pollution.
Remedies (उपाय) to reduce transport pollution include cleaner fuels, public transport, planting trees and using a bicycle.
Rule 1: Six remedies — Walk short distances and cycle for a bit longer ones. Remedies: (1) use fuels that cause less pollution; (2) maintain and repair vehicles on time; (3) use public transport as far as possible; (4) use private vehicles only when necessary; (5) plant indigenous trees like banyan, peepul, neem and karanj, which adapt easily and increase biodiversity; (6) avoid polluting fuels and use LPG or CNG.
In the figure : In the figure these simple habits reduce pollution.
- Easy : Easy: Plant a neem tree.
- Medium : Medium: A bus carries 40 people; if all took cars of 4, it would need 10 cars.
- Exam-type : Exam: List four remedies.
Rule 2: Advantages of a bicycle — A bicycle gives physical exercise, lessens crowding of vehicles, saves money, causes no pollution, builds self-reliance, can be stored in a small space, saves time, and can carry small loads.
In the figure : In the figure the bicycle is healthy, cheap and clean.
- Easy : Easy: A bicycle gives exercise.
- Medium : Medium: A cyclist saves ₹60 of fuel a day: in 5 days ₹300.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why is cycling self-reliant?
Remedies: clean fuels (LPG, CNG), maintenance, public transport, local trees. Bicycle: exercise, saves money, no pollution.
Thinking only big changes can reduce pollution. Small habits count.
Memory clue: "चाल, सायकल, बस, झाड".
Spot the difference
| Remedy | Benefit |
|---|---|
| LPG, CNG | Less pollution |
| Public transport | Fewer vehicles |
| Local trees | Clean air, biodiversity |
| Bicycle | Exercise, no pollution |
Practice questions
- 1Name two cleaner fuels.
- 2Name two local trees.
- 3Why use public transport?
- 4Name two advantages of a bicycle.
- 5Why is timely repair important?
- 6When should private vehicles be used?
- 7A family of 4 uses a car for a 2 km trip daily, 5 days. How many km in all?
- 8Plan: how will you go to school to cause no pollution?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1LPG and CNG.
- 2Banyan and neem.
- 3Fewer vehicles, less pollution.
- 4Exercise and saves money.
- 5A well-kept engine gives less smoke.
- 6Only when necessary.
- 72 × 5 = 10 km.
- 8Walk or cycle.
Quick revision
- Poisonous gases from vehicles: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide.
- Remedies: less polluting fuels (LPG, CNG), public transport, planting local trees.
- Bicycle: exercise, saves money, no pollution.