2.4.1 - Engineering Impacts

What are the four main areas of impact that engineering products can have?

• Personal, Societal, Economic, Environmental

• Personal, Technological, Cultural, Political

• Societal, Technological, Cultural, Political

• Economic, Technological, Cultural, Political

Answer explanation

Engineering products impact individuals (Personal), communities (Societal), economies (Economic), and the natural world (Environmental). This highlights the broad effects of engineering beyond just technology.

Which of the following is an example of a societal impact of engineering?

• Improved personal communication devices

• Increased job creation in local economies

• Access to clean water through purification technologies

• Development of sustainable products

Answer explanation

Access to clean water through purification technologies is a significant societal impact of engineering, as it directly improves public health and quality of life, addressing essential needs for communities.

What is a potential negative environmental impact of engineering projects?

• Enhanced communication technologies

• Disruption of ecosystems and displacement of communities

• Increased access to clean water

• Improved medical treatments

Answer explanation

Engineering projects can lead to the disruption of ecosystems and the displacement of communities, as construction and development often alter natural habitats and force local populations to relocate.

What is an example of an unintended positive impact of engineering?

• Increased air pollution

• Medications with additional therapeutic applications

• Depletion of the ozone layer

• Social isolation due to computers

Answer explanation

An unintended positive impact of engineering is the development of medications that have additional therapeutic applications, enhancing their usefulness beyond initial purposes.

What are negative impacts in engineering often referred to as?

• Benefits

• Costs

• Solutions

• Innovations

Answer explanation

In engineering, negative impacts are often referred to as 'costs'. This term encompasses the drawbacks or expenses associated with a project, contrasting with 'benefits', which highlight positive outcomes.

What is a challenge engineers face in mitigating negative impacts?

• Increasing production costs

• Designing low-emission vehicles

• Enhancing aesthetic appeal

• Reducing labor force

Answer explanation

Designing low-emission vehicles is a significant challenge for engineers as it requires innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact while maintaining performance and safety standards.

How do personal impacts of engineering manifest in daily life?

• By reducing communication efficiency.

• By limiting access to medical advancements.

• By enhancing comfort, convenience, and quality of life.

• By decreasing connectivity with others.

Answer explanation

Engineering significantly enhances daily life by providing innovations that improve comfort, convenience, and overall quality of life, making tasks easier and more efficient.

What do economic impacts of engineering projects encompass?

• Only the costs of building materials.

• The financial benefits and job creation from innovations.

• The reduction of local economies.

• The elimination of job opportunities.

Answer explanation

The economic impacts of engineering projects include financial benefits and job creation from innovations, highlighting their positive contributions to the economy rather than just costs or negative effects.

How do patents protect engineers' innovations and economic interests?

• By allowing free use of designs by others

• By granting exclusive rights to inventions

• By preventing any form of innovation

• By making all designs public

Answer explanation

Patents protect engineers' innovations by granting exclusive rights to their inventions, preventing others from using, making, or selling them without permission, thus safeguarding their economic interests.

What is the focus of sustainability in engineering?

• Increasing production speed

• Reducing costs at all stages

• Creating products that minimize harm to the environment

• Maximizing resource extraction

Answer explanation

The focus of sustainability in engineering is to create products that minimize harm to the environment. This approach prioritizes ecological balance and resource conservation over merely increasing production speed or reducing costs.