The Physics of Traffic Jams,
The Physics of Traffic Jams
Traffic problems are as old as the history of transportation. As the types of
vehicles have changed over the centuries, so have traffic problems and the ways
we've tried to solve them.
The evolution of traffic in the twentieth century can be characterized by the vast increase in the number of cars, followed by an expanding network of roads and streets in an attempt to keep up with the increasing demand. At the same time, new methods to control traffic have been advanced. They include signage, mechanical devices, computer-controlled intelligent traffic lights, and rerouting services. Essential for the development of an effective control mechanism is a detailed understanding of the kinetics of traffic flow.
Learn how various physical approaches—a fluid dynamics theory, an approach based on the dynamics of individual vehicles, and a model using a cellular automata—are being used to understand traffic flow.