Air Pollution in Mechanical Engineering
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Questions and Answers

What is air pollution defined as?

  • The presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere that are injurious to human beings, plants, and animals (correct)
  • The absence of contaminants in the atmosphere
  • The introduction of harmless substances into the atmosphere
  • The natural process of atmospheric renewal

    • What is a major role of air pollution according to the text?

  • Reducing global climate change
  • Contributing to nuclear hazards
  • Polluting the water supply
  • Increasing premature deaths throughout the world (correct)

    • What are the two main categories of air pollution sources?

  • Urban and rural
  • Industrial and agricultural
  • Natural and man-made (correct)
  • Visible and invisible

    • What is an example of a natural source of air pollution?

    <p>Volcanic eruption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a man-made source of air pollution?

    <p>Industries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a classification of air pollutants?

    <p>Liquid, solid, and gas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of air pollution according to the text?

    <p>Global climate change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organization reported on air pollution in 2019?

    <p>WHO</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is environmental science?

    <p>An interdisciplinary field that studies the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'ecosystem' derive from?

    <p>The Greek word for 'study of home'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main characteristic of an ecosystem?

    <p>A group of organisms interacting with their physical environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the world's land area is occupied by forests?

    <p>40%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a terrestrial ecosystem?

    <p>Grassland ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main characteristic of a grassland ecosystem?

    <p>Large areas of grass with scattered trees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the percentage of the world's land area occupied by grasslands?

    <p>20%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an aquatic ecosystem?

    <p>Aquatic ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major environmental effect of sulfur dioxide emissions?

    <p>Damage to trees, soils, and aquatic life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the WHO, what percentage of cities in the Americas saw a fall in PM pollution between 2010 and 2016?

    <p>More than 57%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common source of lead in the environment?

    <p>Metal processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation gasoline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the health effects of ground-level ozone?

    <p>Decrease in lung function and coughing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a method to control air pollution mentioned in the text?

    <p>Planting trees along busy streets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a catalytic converter?

    <p>To control the emissions of CO and hydrocarbons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of device can be used to remove particulates from a gas stream?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle of operation of a cyclone separator?

    <p>Inertia separation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of energy is lost in the form of heat as it flows through different trophic levels?

    <p>90%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of nutrients in ecosystems?

    <p>To assist organisms in surviving, growing, and decomposing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary component of all organic compounds?

    <p>Carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process by which plants take up CO2 from the atmosphere?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of nitrogen in the atmosphere?

    <p>Nitrogen gas (N2)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the carbon compounds in the soil after decomposition?

    <p>They are used by plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process by which carbon is returned to the atmosphere from plants and animals?

    <p>Respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of the cycling of nutrients in an ecosystem?

    <p>Nutrients are cycled again and again in the ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of primary pollutants?

    <p>The source that releases them directly into the air</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a secondary pollutant?

    <p>Ground-level ozone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major source of indoor air pollution according to the World Health Organization (WHO)?

    <p>Radon gas emitted from building materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is carbon monoxide (CO)?

    <p>A primary pollutant emitted from the incomplete combustion of fuel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a primary pollutant?

    <p>Ground-level ozone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major health risk associated with indoor air pollution?

    <p>400,000 deaths per year in the U.S.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the source of radon gas in indoor air pollution?

    <p>Building materials like bricks, concrete, etc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major cause of indoor air pollution?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Air Pollution

    • Air pollution is one of the most concerning problems and has a major role in global climate change and premature deaths worldwide.
    • Air pollution refers to the introduction of substances into the atmosphere that have harmful effects on humans, other living organisms, and the environment.
    • Sources of air pollution can be divided into two categories: natural (e.g., volcanic eruption, forest fires) and man-made (e.g., automobiles, thermal power plants, industries, burning of fossil fuels).

    Types of Air Pollutants

    • Primary pollutants: released directly from the source into the air (e.g., carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, particulate matter, toxic metals).
    • Secondary pollutants: produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds (e.g., ground-level ozone, sulfuric acid, nitric acid).

    Indoor Air Pollution

    • Indoor air generally contains higher concentrations of toxic pollutants than outdoor air.
    • Examples of indoor air pollutants: radon gas, burning of fuels in the kitchen, smoking.

    Common Pollutants

    • Carbon Monoxide (CO): a toxic gas emitted from combustion processes, can cause environmental damage and health problems.
    • Lead: a metal found naturally in the environment and in manufactured products, can damage the nervous system and cause heart problems.
    • Ground-level ozone (O3): a reactive oxidant gas created by the interaction of sunlight, heat, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, can cause respiratory problems and damage vegetation.

    Controlling Air Pollution

    • Use unleaded gasoline, biodiesel, and low-sulfur fuels.
    • Plant trees along busy streets to reduce particulates, CO, and noise.
    • Situate industries outside the city.
    • Use catalytic converters to control emissions of CO and hydrocarbons.
    • Implement mechanical devices like electrostatic precipitators, baghouse filters, cyclone separators, and wet scrubbers to remove pollutants.

    Cyclone Separators

    • A low-cost, low-maintenance method of removing larger particulates from a gas stream.
    • Uses the principle of inertia separation, forcing particulates to change direction.

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    Description

    Air pollution is a major concern globally, contributing to climate change and premature deaths. This quiz covers various types of air pollutants and their effects.

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