AP Unit 7

Which of the following best describes the process shown in the diagram above?

• Less-dense, cool air rises up and mixes with the denser warm air above it, increasing the amount of thermal pollution in the atmosphere.

• Less-dense, warm air creates a temperature inversion between more-dense layers, trapping pollutants near the ground.

• Dense, warm air from the mountains on the right pushes into the less-dense, cool air mass, causing an inversion layer.

• Movement of air currents over urban areas decreases the amount of photochemical smog during summer months.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Scientists have been collecting atmospheric CO2 data for many years to monitor changes over time. Which of the following best describes why an island location, such as the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, is an ideal location to measure global CO2 concentrations?

• The island is also a dormant volcano, so there will be only anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 measured at the site.

• The location is below the inversion layer, making it less prone to local effects from industry and transportation.

• The location is far from any continent, providing atmospheric air samples that are less likely to be affected by industry and transportation.

• The impact of primary producers in the surrounding Pacific Ocean is negligible, reducing the effect of photosynthesis and respiration on CO2 levels.

Which of the following is the most likely reason for the trend shown in the graph of fluctuating indoor radon levels over the course of a year?

• Some windows are often closed during summer months, causing the levels of radon in the house to build up.

• Barometric pressure changes from summer storms can cause radon levels to increase.

• Radon levels tend to increase in the colder months because of the difference in temperature inside and outside the home, which creates a vacuum pulling radon into the home at a higher rate.

• Increased levels of radon are linked to burning biomass indoors, which increases in winter months when more biomass is burned for cooking and heating.

Which of the following is most likely responsible for the indoor air pollutant shown in the graph?

• Cracks in the basement foundation

• Synthetic fiber in carpets and furniture

• Leaking water

• Pet hair

Which of the following is most responsible for the change in the emissions of volatile organic compounds ( VOC) from 1970 to 2020 as shown in the graph?

• A decrease in the number of vehicles fitted with catalytic converters and an increase in the number of hybrid vehicles beginning in 1970.

• A decrease in the average driving distance in the United States from 1970 to 2020 that resulted from increased urbanization.

• An increase in air emission standards that began in 1970 that regulated corporate average fuel economy ( CAFE) standards.

• An increase in VOC emissions from car exhausts that resulted from increased driving distances from 1970 to 2020.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

An experiment to evaluate the efficiency of wet and dry scrubber networks that filter particulate gas at different flow rates was conducted under different flow rate conditions. The results are shown below. Which of the following best describes the efficiency of dry scrubbers at removing particles that are less than 2 micrometers in diameter?

• Dry scrubbers are less than 20% efficient at removing particles less than 1μm and increase to over 50% efficiency at removing particles between 1 and 2μ .

• Dry scrubbers are between 50% and 90% efficient at removing particles less than 2μm, depending on the flow rate.

• Dry scrubbers are between 5% and 40% efficient at removing particles less than 2μm in size.

• Dry scrubbers are less than 10% efficient at removing particles less than 1μm in size.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

An experiment to evaluate the efficiency of wet and dry scrubber networks that filter particulate gas at different flow rates was conducted under different flow rate conditions. The results are shown below. Based on the data in the graph, which of the following methods would be most effective at removing the greatest amount of particulate matter from coal-burning power plant emissions?

• Dry scrubbers using a flow rate of 200 L/min are best suited to remove small particles.

• Dry scrubbers using a flow rate of 450 L/min are best suited to remove large particles.

• Wet scrubbers using a flow rate of 300 L/min are best suited to remove small particles.

• Wet scrubbers using a flow rate of 450 L/min are best suited to remove large particles.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

Air pollution from a power plant is being monitored for levels of nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone. The levels are measured daily at the same time. Which of the following best predicts the impact of a dark and cloudy day on the readings for the levels of air pollutants measured?

• There will be no change in the levels of nitrogen dioxide or ground-level ozone.

• There will be a decrease in the level of nitrogen dioxide and an increase in the level of ground-level ozone.

• There will be an increase in the levels of both nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.

• There will be an increase in the level of nitrogen dioxide and a decrease in the level of ground-level ozone.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

Scientists are testing the effect of different scrubber technologies on the removal of pollutants from coal power plants. The scrubbers use a slurry of limestone and water. Which of the following best describes the impact of modifying the slurry by increasing the amount of limestone?

• The amount of sulfur dioxide released will decrease.

• The amount of ground-level ozone released will decrease.

• The amount of water released will increase.

• The amount of carbon monoxide released will increase.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

Scientists want to examine the effects of a coal-burning power plant on the pH of a lake that is downwind of the power plant. They take samples from a lake that is not downwind of the power plant to serve as a control. However, they did not realize that the lake they chose as a control group was a geothermal hot spring with acidic water. Which of the following best describes how their choice of control group could affect the results of their experiment?

• Using this control would not have an effect on the outcome because the high temperature of the hot spring reduces the acidity of the water in the lake.

• The coal-burning power plant would appear to have a much larger effect on the pH of the experimental group because the pH in the control lake would be elevated from the acidic water.

• The coal-burning power plant would not appear to have a large impact because the pH levels of the two lakes would be similar.

• The coal-burning power plant would affect both lakes because the Coriolis effect and weather patterns would circulate pollutants in the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5