Traffic and physics

2008/03/31 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Fisika

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Paradoxically, one of the most characteristic features of this modern and fast world is the traffic jams, paradoxically because the traffic jams slow down and therefore the world based on fast transport. The question is why roadblocks occur. Sometimes there are obvious reasons, such as accidents, road narrowing, traffic lights or drivers that slow down to look at accidents, there are jams. However, sometimes there are no obvious reasons, and yet queues are created. There are

many hypotheses. According to one, it is only a basic matter of particle physics. In systems with large quantities of particles, it is impossible for all particles to move at the same speed, which forces the accumulation of particles from a certain density. Applying this physical theory to traffic explains how traffic jams occur when many cars

circulate, but that is just a theory. Japanese researchers have conducted an experiment to see this theory in practice. Many cars have been introduced on a 230 meter circular track. Drivers are asked to travel at a determined speed of 30 kilometers per hour. But it is impossible for all cars to circulate at that speed at all times. They will move faster or faster sooner or later. This causes the effect predicted by particle physics: cars accumulate, that is, jams occur. Hence the paradox that was mentioned at the beginning: the fast modern world demands that there be many cars, which slows traffic forcibly by order of physics.

Video: New Journal of Physics