Book 25, Question 38
Why do some city vehicles hang on wires above the street?
Streetcars and trolley buses run on electricity from overhead wires.
A pole or a frame on the roof, called a pantograph, touches the wire and brings electric current down to the motor. For streetcars, the current returns through the rails. Toronto has one of the largest streetcar systems in North America. The wires keep the vehicle from needing a big battery or engine. Stay far away from overhead wires.