Vehicle facts for kids

Many different types of vehicles, like carriages, trams, trains, cars, bicycles, balloons, planes, ships, airships, and yachts.

A car is a type of vehicle.

A vehicle is a machine designed to move people or things from one place to another. Unlike living beings, vehicles are not alive. For example, a horse can carry people, but it's an animal, not a vehicle. Vehicles are essential for travel, transport, and many other activities around the world.

Different Kinds of Vehicles

Vehicles come in many shapes and sizes, built for different environments. They can travel on land, in water, or through the air and even space!

Vehicles on Land

Most vehicles that move on land have wheels. You see them every day!

• Bicycles are popular for short trips and exercise.
• Cars are used by families and individuals for daily travel.
• Motorcycles offer a quick way to get around.
• Trains carry many people or heavy goods over long distances on tracks.

Some land vehicles are powered by an engine or motor. These are called motor vehicles. Examples include cars, buses, and trucks.

Other land vehicles, like tanks and snowmobiles, use special tracks instead of wheels. These tracks work like a moving belt to help them move over rough ground or snow.

Vehicles on Water

Vehicles that travel on or in the water are called watercraft.

• Boats are smaller vessels often used for fishing or recreation.
• Ships are much larger and can carry huge amounts of cargo or many passengers across oceans.
• Submarines are unique because they can travel completely underwater.

Vehicles in Air and Space

Vehicles that fly in the sky are known as aircraft.

• Aeroplanes are common for fast travel over long distances.
• Balloons float in the air, often used for sightseeing.

Some vehicles can even leave Earth's orbit and go into outer space. The Space Shuttle was one famous example of a vehicle designed for space travel.

How Vehicles Move

Vehicles need power to move. They get this power from various sources:

• Human Muscles: Some vehicles are powered by people. Think of bicycles or skateboards, where your own muscles do the work.
• Engines: Many modern vehicles use engines that burn fuel to create power. This includes most cars, ships, and aeroplanes.
• Electricity: More and more vehicles are powered by electricity. Many passenger trains, electric cars, and electric bikes use this clean energy.
• Animals: Before engines were common, animals were often used to pull vehicles. Carts and chariots were moved by Animals like horses or oxen.
• Wind: Some vehicles use the power of the wind. Sailboats use sails to catch the wind and move across water. Iceboats do the same on ice.
• No Power: Some vehicles don't have their own power source. They rely on other forces. For example, gliders fly by using air currents, and balloons float by being lighter than the air around them.

Images for kids

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  Buses are a common form of vehicles used for public transport.

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  A Slavic dugout boat from the 10th century.

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  The most common model of vehicle in the world, the Flying Pigeon bicycle. (2011)

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  An electric bike in China (2011).

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  A modern scooter in Taiwan.

See also

In Spanish: Vehículo para niños