Electric locomotive

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/electric-locomotive

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the traction system?External electricity supply via overhead lines (catenary) or third rail
2. What is the motor efficiency?Electric motors typically achieve efficiencies exceeding 90%
3. Why are electric locomotives quieter than diesel trains?They have no combustion engine or exhaust, so they make much less noise. This is good for cities and for places with wildlife.
4. How do electric locomotives save energy when they stop?They use regenerative braking, which captures the energy that would normally be lost as heat and sends it back into the power grid.

Catenary System: An overhead network of wires that supplies electricity to electric trains.
Internal Combustion Engine: An engine that generates power by burning fuel within cylinders, characteristic of diesel locomotives.
Decarbonization: The process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions, a key goal for sustainable transport.
Motive Force: The force that causes movement, in this case, the power that drives the train forward.