Class 12 English Unit 4: Technology Reading: Hyperloop by Elon Musk Language Development Section

 

Unit 4: Technology Reading: Hyperloop by Elon Musk (p.27)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcikLQZI5wQ

Reflection of the Essay

A hyperloop is an ultra-high-speed (760mph (1,220 km/h) transportation system for passengers and cargo in a ‘floating’ pod that shoots through giant, low-pressure tubes, either above or below ground. The earliest hyperloop was likely to be up and running by 2020 but most services are expected to be later, as trials of the technology are still in their early stages. The two differences between hyperloop and traditional rail are: Firstly, the pods travel through tunnels with less air to reduce friction. Secondly, the pods do not have wheels like a train but are designed to float on air skis or use magnetic floating to reduce friction.

The history of a hyperloop is related to The Crystal Palace Pneumatic Railway that used air pressure to push a wagon uphill in Victorian south London in 1864. The earlier concept of hyperloop was developed by Robert Goddard early in the twentieth century. However, it was entrepreneur Elon Musk who re-conceptualized with his 'Hyperloop Alpha' paper in August 2013. Hyperloop travels through a tube reducing air friction, most but not all of the air is removed from the tubes by pumps. Overcoming air resistance is one of the biggest uses of energy in high-speed travel as airliners do. In Musk's model, the pressure of the air inside the hyperloop tube is about one-sixth the pressure of the atmosphere on Mars. The pod would get its initial velocity from an external linear electric motor, accelerating it to 'high subsonic velocity with a boost of every 70 miles or so.  Each capsule could carry 28 passengers (other versions aim to carry up to 40) plus some luggage; another version of the pods could carry cargo and vehicles. Pods would depart every two minutes (or every 30 seconds at peak usage).

Under Musk's model, the Hyperloop would be powered by solar panels placed on the top of the tube which would allow the system to generate more energy than it needs to run. Traveling in the tube might be an uncomfortable experience, due to nausea-inducing acceleration, plus lateral G-force on bends in the route. However, a journey via hyperloop will feel about the same as riding in an elevator or a passenger plane. The success of the hyperloop depends on the huge, multibillion-dollar, and, as yet, unanswered question. The well-funded companies are in racing to be the first to deliver the service but, they are in their pilot and experimental stages. The success of the hyperloop will vary depending on the destinations, local economics, and geography. Trying to build a new line overland across England, for example, can prove an expensive and complicated business. Capacity is another issue. Hyperloop can carry a large number of people as trains do to its transit options. Critics argue that lots of pods will be required to achieve the same passenger numbers as traditional rail did. And there are many engineering hurdles to overcome, like building the tubes strong enough to deal with the stresses of carrying the high-speed pods and finding energy- and cost- efficient ways to keep them operating at low pressure.

Moving from a successful test to a full commercial deployment is a big jump, and passenger trials are still to come. Assuming that consumers are happy being zoomed around in these tubes, finding the right price for the service will be vital, too. Right now, the hyperloop is at an experimental stage, even if the companies involved are very keen to talk about its potential.

Working with words

A.   Choose the correct words from the box to complete the following sentences. (page 30)

a.      I think that covering up the facts is equivalent to lying really.

b.     If there is not a substantial move to public transport, we will have gridlock and the whole regeneration will not work.

c.      Each new leader would blame his predecessor for all the evils of the past.

d.     We have, in fact, envisioned a better world and have made it happen.

e.      The main linear actuators of the pneumatic (air-filled) systems are cylinders.

f.       The barrel was short and the bullet emerged at subsonic speed (less than sound speed).

g.     The city is said to receive two-fifths of the total freight delivered in the country.

h.     It would still take four hours to get down, in a spiral of turbulence (commotion)

i.       Apparently, the magician will be doing some levitation (rising) on the stage tomorrow.

j.       We might be experiencing some deceleration (lowering) on this flight due to an approaching electrical storm.

B.    Add three more words that are formed with the following prefixes. (page 31)

a.      hyper- : hyperloop, hyperlink, hypercorrection, hyperactive

b.     ultra- : ultrahigh, ultrasound, ultrasonic, ultralight

c.      up-: uphill, upset, upstairs, uproar

d.     over-: overcoming, overflow, overall, overseas 

e.      multi-: multibillion, multilingual, multicultural, multipurpose 

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a.      What is a hyperloop? How does it work?

The Hyperloop is a planned train that would be capable of traveling at 760 mph. It’s super-fast because it’s enclosed in a tube with no air in it. As a result of the lack of air, there will be no friction to slow the train down.

b.     How is the hyperloop more beneficial than traditional trains?

The hyperloop is much more beneficial and superior than any traditional or high-speed rail. It’s less expensive and uses less energy since the track doesn’t have to provide electricity to the pods constantly and because the pods may depart every 30 seconds, it’s more like a demand-based service.

c.      Does Hyperloop have a successful history? How?

No, it does not have a successful history since the original concept for hyperloop was to use wagons and pneumatic tubes to transport mail and parcels between buildings.

d.     Write the contributions of Robert Goddard and Elon Musk for the development of the hyperloop.

In order to provide ultra-fast intercity transport, Space X and Tesla founder Elon Musk created the hyperloop idea. In addition to automobiles, aircraft, boats, and trains, Elon envisions a “fifth mode” of transportation that utilises travel pods housed within steel tubes. He revived interest in the idea of hyperloop in August 2013 with his ‘Hyperloop Alpha’ paper.  The ‘vactrain’ idea, created by Robert Goddard in the early 20th century, is a prototype of the hyperloop. Since then, a slew of similar concepts has been proposed.

e.      What relation does speed have with air resistance? Explain.

More Air resistance decreases the speed of a moving body and vice versa. Since the Hyperloop will travel through the vacuum tubes, the speed will drastically increase as a result of no air resistance.

f.       What are hyperloop capsules compared with? How are they similar?

Hyperloop capsules are compared with Boeing 747 because both of them accelerate at the same rate of acceleration.

g.     How do the passengers feel while travelling via hyperloop? What will be done to make it luxurious?

On a hyperloop, the passengers feel approximately the same as riding a lift or a passenger aircraft. The cabin shows beautiful scenery and each passenger has access to his or her private entertainment systems, to let them have easy travel.

h.     Why does the writer doubt the success of the Hyperloop? What does success depend on?

Hyperloop’s success will be determined by the destinations, the local economy, and the geographical location. The author has concerns regarding the hyperloop’s capability because of the enormous multibillion-dollar expenditure and the fact that the projects are still in the pilot and experimental phases. In the past, Nikola Tesla and Elon Musk had already closed the same concept program, due to no response from government authorities.

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