Answer :
Final answer:
The correct ranking from most to least expensive for freight transportation modes is C) Air, Truck, Rail, Water. Air freight is much more expensive due to higher energy costs, while water transportation, particularly with cargo ships, offers the least expensive option thanks to its efficiency and capacity.
Explanation:
The correct ranking of freight transportation modes from most expensive to least expensive is C) Air, Truck, Rail, Water. This ranking considers the energy efficiency and total energy expenditure associated with each transportation mode. According to Table D.2, air freight is significantly more energetically costly than shipping by rail or water, with air freight being 100 times more energetically costly than by ship. On the other hand, cargo ships are a highly efficient means of transporting goods, leveraging economies of scale to transport a large volume of cargo over long distances.
Moreover, congested roadways and freeway systems can significantly increase the costs associated with truck transport, which emphasizes the appeal of locations with easy access to railways or waterways.
