Reduction of Air Pollutants

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.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

Scientists have discovered that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from trees can contribute to photochemical smog formation. Data in the table above were collected in 2006 and 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Isoprene is a VOC released by some tree species. Impact factor refers to the percentage of ozone attributed to the isoprene. Which of the following best describes the relationship between variables in the data table?

• Impact factor causes a change in temperature maximum.

• Isoprene levels vary depending on traffic and urbanization.

• Ozone maximum is correlated to average and maximum temperature.

• Changes in average temperature are linked to changes in land use in Berlin.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Scientists have discovered that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from trees can contribute to photochemical smog formation. Data in the table above were collected in 2006 and 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Isoprene is a VOC released by some tree species. Impact factor refers to the percentage of ozone attributed to the isoprene. Which of the following claims is best supported by the data shown in the table?

• Ozone levels are not a serious air quality concern in Berlin.

• Ozone levels in Berlin were consistently higher in 2014 than in 2006.

• Isoprene’s contribution to ozone levels in Berlin was greatest in July of both years.

• Isoprene levels were negatively correlated with maximum temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

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

In addition to a nearby mountain range, which of the following environmental conditions would be required for the process in the diagram to occur?

• A cool sea breeze and a high pressure system

• A warm mountain breeze and a low pressure system

• A cool sea breeze and a low pressure system

• A cool mountain breeze and a high pressure system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following points on the graph best illustrates the location where pollutants are most likely to accumulate as a result of a thermal inversion?

• Point A

• Point B

• Point C

• Point D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

An air pollution expert set up a monitoring program to determine the amount of particulate matter (PM) leaving a farmer’s field after crops were harvested and the soil was bare. She set up high-volume air samplers 10 meters from each edge of the square field and collected samples weekly for two months. When she looked at her data, she was surprised by how much the PM levels varied, both from site to site on a given date and over time at each site. Which of the following parameters would have been best to measure to help explain the variation in her results?

• Percent of cloudy days over the two months

• Particle size of the soils in the field

• Depth of the organic matter in the soil

• Wind direction and speed

Which of the following devices is correctly paired to the air pollutant it would be used to measure?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

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

Based on the data in the graph, which of the following insulation options is ineffective at insulating a home and greatly contributes to indoor air pollution?

• Blown cellulose

• Mineral Fiber Batt

• Expanded polystyrene

• Rigid Foam

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3