Trolleytruck

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/trolleytruck

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 vehicle classification?Electric truck designed for cargo transport, distinct from passenger trolleybuses
2. How does a trolleytruck get power?The truck has two poles that touch wires overhead. One pole brings electricity to the motor, and the other sends it back to the power station, so the truck can keep moving without batteries.
3. Why do trolleytrucks use overhead wires instead of batteries?Overhead wires give the truck a constant supply of power, so it can work all day and carry very heavy loads. Batteries would run out and need to be recharged, which would slow work.

Trolley Pole: A retractable pole with a wheel or shoe for collecting electric current from overhead wires.
Pantograph: A diamond-shaped or Z-shaped collector that presses against overhead wires, used for higher current collection than trolley poles.
Insulator: A material that does not conduct electricity, such as the rubber used in vehicle tires.
Renewable Energy Sources: Energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed, like solar or wind power.