CE 250 Module 1 & 2 quizzes

What is the implication of the negative characterization factors for several of the pollutants and impacts? The pollutant reduces the magnitude of the environmental impact

yes

What is the concentration of the unknown tributary (y)? Express answer in mg/L, rounded to the nearest whole number. Cx=50, Qx=18 Cz=90, Qz=23

234

If you choose to Study Abroad or do a Co-op, careful planning is required to ensure timely degree completion.

True

In life cycle assessment, characterization factors convert emissions of different pollutants into common units for a given environmental impact.

True

One foot of sea level rise can yield more than 1 foot of increase storm surge.

True

Global surface temperatures have increased: a. equally over the land and ocean b. greater over the ocean relative to over the land c. greater over the land relative to over the ocean

C

The US population (~330 million) has nearly 4 million miles of public roads. What is the best estimate of miles of public roads in Wake County (~ population of 1,000,000)? a. 15,000 miles b. 10,000 miles c. 12,000 miles d. 5,000 miles

C

The best estimate of human-caused global surface temperature increase from pre-industrial levels to the most recent decade is: Select one: a. 8.72 °C b. 0.68 °C c. 1.07 °C d. 0.18 °C

C

The gravitational constant, G, is defined as 6.67 x 10-11 N.m2/(kg2). G has dimensions of ___. Select one: a. ML3T-2 b. M-2L2T-2 c. M-1L3T-2 d. M-1L2T-1

C

What do the "leaves" represent in a tree diagram? Select one: a. Parametric uncertainties b. Structural uncertainties c. Subdivisions of the goal

C

Proportional reasoning requires identifying an invariant.

True

Match the product system to the most suitable functional unit: Hand sanitizer factory Landfill Subway(metro rail)

1000 ml hand sanitizer produced 1 ton of trash disposed Passenger miles traveled

c. How many kilograms of this contaminant flows down the unknown tributary (y) every day (round to the nearest kg)? Cx=50, Qx=18 Cz=90, Qz=23

101088

Your life cycle inventory finds that the product is associated with the following pollutant releases: 1,000 kg of CO2 to the air and 10 kg of methane (CH4) to the air. The characterization factor of methane to air is 29.8 kg CO2 eq / kg CH4. The characterization factor of CO2 to air is 1 kg CO2 eq / kg CO2. What is the total life cycle climate impact of this product (in kg CO2 eq)?

1298

Two streams (A and B) converge. Stream A has a flow rate of 10 cubic meters per minute and has a concentration of a conservative pollutant of 312 micrograms per liter. Stream B has a flow rate of 10 cubic meters per minute and has no detectable levels of the pollutant. What is the downstream concentration of the pollutant?

156 micrograms per liter

Across all of the Sustainable Development Goals, there are how many specific targets?

169

In 2017, according to the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card, how many of the 16 infrastructure categories receive a grade of C or higher? (provide a numerical integer)

4

The two streams (pictured below) each have a different flowrate (Q) and concentration (C) of a conservative pollutant (i.e., the pollutant does not react). When the two streams combine, they mix completely. Cx=50, Qx=18 Cz=90, Qz=23

5

According to the 2021 IPCC report, how certain is the scientific consensus that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, land, and oceans? a. Unequivocal b. High confidence c. More likely than not d. Low certainty

A

Averaged across the world, how much has sea level increased since the beginning of the last century? a. 20 cm b. 20 mm c. 8 mm d. 8 cm

A

For an equation to be dimensionally consistent, the dimensional exponents must: Select one: a. be the same on both sides of the equation b. sum to 0 c. be integers d. sum to 1

A

Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) are used to: Select one: a. Evaluate the impacts of different scenarios of greenhouse gas concentrations b. Evaluate the intensity of energy production as a function of economic productivity c. Determine the differences in global warming potential across disparate pollutants

A

The Course Equivalency website tells you: Select one: a. If a course taken at another university will count for an NC State requirement b. The requisites that you need for your core courses. c. How many credits you need to complete your degree.

A

The fundamental dimensions M, L, and T stand for: Select one: a. mass, length, time b. magnitude, longevity, time c. meters, liters, temperature

A

Which of the following is the possible unit for dimensions [ML2T-2]: Select one: a. kg*m2/(s2) b. kg*m/(s2) c. kg*m2/(s3) d. kg/m*s2

A

You are conducting an LCA to compare the environmental impacts of incandescent lightbulbs and LEDs, which are far more efficient. Why would you not choose "1 kWh" as the functional unit for your study? Select one: a. The lightbulbs' function is not to consume electricity b. The upfront cost of the options varies greatly c. It is difficult to precisely measure the electricity consumption d. There are different manufacturing burdens between the options

A

You plan to use the divide and conquer technique to estimate the number of people who would use a proposed train station each year. What term would be suitable for the top of your tree diagram? Select one: a. Passengers/year b. Trains/day c. Average occupancy rate d. Miles/hour

A

What are possible units for x when y has dimensions of [L-1M] and z has dimensions of [L2T-2], given the following equation (check all that apply) 4x = y2z Select one or more: a. tonne2/(hr2) b. kg2/(s2) c. miles per hour d. yd3/day

A and B

What is/are the most likely reasons innovation was slow at the beginning of human history? Select all that apply. a. low density of people b. people weren't as intelligent c. innovation could be deadly

A and C

You are trying to estimate your gas costs for the coming year. Which of the following contribute(s) parametric uncertainties? (select all that apply) Select one or more: a. You are not sure about your vehicle miles traveled and need to make a guess. b. Your model only accounts for your car and does not account for rental cars. c. You make a guess in the average fuel economy (e.g., miles per gallon) of your car.

A and C

Tropospheric ozone formation is governed by complex chemical reactions, which are influenced by ambient concentrations of ___. Select all that apply. Select one or more: a.NOx b.CO2 c.Particulate matter d. VOCs

A and D

In Lecture 1.5, the number of gas stations in the U.S. was estimated. Which of the following is a structural uncertainty? Select one: a. The population in the U.S. is not exactly 330 million. b. The population in Boonville is not exactly 5,000. c. A person is not necessarily a driver.

C

Which of the following are impacts of rising temperatures and extreme heat events? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Decrease in the carrying capability of the transmission grid b. Reduction in the generation capacity of thermoelectric power plants c. Increase in the electricity demand for air conditioning d. Increased electricity demand for resistance heating.

A, B, and C

In the ISO Life Cycle Assessment Framework, what are included in "Goal and scope definition?" Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Purpose of study b. System boundary c. Material inventory d. Functional unit

A, B, and D

Which of the following are examples of climate change adaptation for the transportation sector? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Build longer runways at airports b. Dedicate crews for quick repairs of transportation infrastructure c. Reduce fossil fuel use in light duty vehicles d. Replace and/or reconstruct highway and bridge expansion joints

A, B, and D

Which of the following are examples of climate change mitigation? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Improving the average fuel economy of light duty vehicles b. Eliminating fugitive methane emissions from landfills c. Selecting pavement materials that can better withstand extreme temperatures d. Building a 100 MW solar photovoltaic facility

A, B, and D

Which of the following are ozone-depleting substances? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a.Halons b.NOx c.CFCs d.HFCs

A, C, and D

Which of the following questions involve(s) Life Cycle Thinking? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Is paper, plastic, or textile bags the most environmentally friendly option for carrying groceries? b. Which building design results in the lowest overall environmental impact c. What is the most environmentally friendly way to package and transport food? d. Do people living in shared housing have high risks of infecting COVID-19?

A,B and C

Climate change has the potential to adversely impact agricultural productivity through alterations in (select all that apply): Select one or more: a. altered patterns of pest pressure b. rainfall patterns c. more frequent occurrences of climate extremes (e.g., high temperatures or drought)

ALL

The Plan of Work: (select all that apply) a. Shows the set of electives that fulfills some requirements b. Shows the requisites for our courses c. Shows whether the courses are offered in the fall or spring

ALL

There are Sustainable Development Goals that relate to: (select all that apply) Select one or more: a. Poverty b. Climate change c. Aquatic ecosystems d. Economic growth e. Inequality

ALL

Ways to get involved with undergraduate research include: (select all that apply): Select one or more: a. Taking CE499 b. Applying for funded positions with faculty c. Participating in the NCSU RISE program over the summer

ALL

Which of the following infrastructure can be affected by sea level rising? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Bridges b. Rail c. Roads d. Airports

ALL

Which of the followings are climate impacts? Select all that apply. Select one or more: a. Changing precipitation patterns b. More frequent and higher temperatures c. Sea level rise, storm surge

ALL

The "eq" in terms such as CO2-eq stands for: Select one: a.Equilibrium b.Equation c. Equivalents d.Equity

C

Annual cycles for global atmospheric CO2 concentrations are driven by: Select one: a. Variations in the output from solar and wind power b. The different mass of vegetation between the Northern and Southern hemispheres c. Annual variations in driving distances and the associated oil combustion d. Variations in power plant operations

B

Double counting CE courses is a good way to: Select one: a. Finish your bachelor's degree quicker. b. Not graduate, because it's not allowed. c. Save money.

B

In a tree diagram, the notation "-1" indicates: Select one: a. A term is highly uncertain b. A term should be raised to -1 exponent c. A term should be multiplied by -1 d. A term that can be omitted in your estimation

B

The US population (~ 330 million) has nearly 4 million miles of public roads. What invariant would you use to estimate the miles of public roads in Wake County (~ population of 1,000,000)? a. 0.012 people/mile of road b. 0.012 miles of road/person c. 12 miles of road/person d. 82.5 miles of road/person

B

What is the main cause of ocean acidification? Select one: a. SO2 and NOx b. CO2 c. CH4 d. O3

B

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas? Select one: a. N2O b. NO2 c. CH4 d. CO2

B

You are conducting an LCA to compare the environmental impacts of two pavement designs for a highway. Why might "one mile of highway" be an inadequate functional unit? Select one: a. People may prefer one option for aesthetic reasons b. One pavement design may last longer than the other c. One option is far more commonly used d. The cost of the options have not been considered

B

Resilience is: select all that apply- a. terminology used interchangeably with "sustainable," particularly in the transportation sector b. the capacity to recover rapidly from natural and man-made disruptions c. the ability to anticipate and prepare for changing conditions that affect infrastructure d. the ability of infrastructure to naturally recover from failures

B and C

Fuel combustion and energy use are the primary cause of (select all that apply): Select one or more: a.Eutrophication b.Smog c.Stratospheric Ozone Depletion d. Acidification

B and D

You are asked to estimate the number of major airports in the United States using proportional reasoning. You know that North Carolina has two major airports and a population of about 10 million. You also know that the US population is about 330 million, so you assume that the US has 33 times as many airports as North Carolina (i.e., roughly 66 major airports in the US). What was your invariant in your estimation? Select one: a. Airports/state b. Area served/airport c. Population/airport d. North Carolina population

C

You are trying to estimate the mass of concrete needed for a highway project. An example of structural uncertainty in your model may be: Select one: a. There are irreducible variability in the depth of the finished road. b. You measured the density of the concrete with a mass balance that rounds to the nearest kg. c. You simplified your model to exclude on-ramps and off-ramps.

C

Select the statements that were supported by Lecture 1.2 content: Select one or more: a. Economic growth must exclusively come at the expense of environmental conservation b. The goals of sustainable development can be achieved exclusively through environmental preservation c.Intergenerational well-being is a goal of sustainability d. Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

C and D

Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs): (mark all that apply) a. represent the set of historical pathways that led to our current climate change challenges b. represent all plausible outcomes for climate change c. are future climate change scenarios d. illustrate the different impacts under varying levels of greenhouse gas mitigation

C and D

Which of the following are dimensions (check all that apply): Select one or more: a. kilograms b. hours c. length d. temperature

C and D

We use "CO2-eq" to: Select one: a.To estimate the local CO2 concentrations b.To measure the equilibrium concentrations of CO2 c.To equate to CO2 emissions to the associated costs d. Bring the climate change impacts of different greenhouse gases to a common unit

D

You are conducting an LCA to compare the environmental impacts of riding an electric bike vs taking a public bus. Why would you not choose "one mile of transport" as the functional unit for your study? Select one: a. The electric bike is personally owned b. You have to park the electric bike c. You plan on traveling many miles d. More than one person is typically riding the bus at any given time

D

In 2017, what was the US's 'grade' for infrastructure?

D+

Thorough life cycle thinking considers which of the following: Select one: a. Materials processing b. Manufacturing c. Use d. End of life e. All of the above

E

According to the ISO Life Cycle Assessment Framework, Life Cycle Assessment is a one directional process.

False

All anthropogenic actions lead to increases in radiative forcings.

False

All critical path courses are offered both in the fall and spring semesters.

False

Almost half of the inhabited regions across the globe have observed an increase in extreme hot temperatures

False

ISO stands for International Sustainability Organization

False

Ozone (O3) in the stratosphere leads to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.

False

Sustainable development calls for sacrificing meeting our needs today so that future generations can meet theirs.

False

The Accelerated Bachelors-to-Masters program allows you to double count up to six credit hours toward a graduate degree.

False

When performing an LCA on a product, conforming to the ISO LCA Standard guarantees the same answer from different parties.

False

When you have earned enough credits to achieve "senior status," you have met the requirements for Senior Design.

False

What does it mean when a pollutant has a characterization factor of 1?

It is the reference chemical, against which the impacts of other pollutants are scaled.

Drag force ~ Area x Density x β (Hint: drag force may be given in units of kg×ms2kg×ms2 )

L2 T-2

The emissions rate is highly uncertain

NO

What is the implication of the negative characterization factors for several of the pollutants and impacts? The pollutant is not emitted to the environment

NO

Forward-looking design informs investment in reliable infrastructure that can better withstand ongoing and future climate risks.

True

Match the term and its meaning: Climate change adaption Climate change mitigation

The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities Actions to limit the magnitude of climate change, typically through reductions in human (anthropogenic) emissions of greenhouse gases or increasing the capacity of carbon sinks (e.g., reforestation)

According to the IPCC Summary Report, 1983-2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period in the Northern Hemisphere in the last 1400 years (medium confidence).

True

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are higher in recent years than at any time in at least the past two million years

True

Dimensional analysis can tell you if an equation is wrong, but is not sufficient to tell you that it is correct.

True

Earning a degree from an ABET accredited program is an important part of achieving a professional engineering license.

True

The code of ethics for American Society for Civil expects engineers to adhere to the principles of sustainable development.

True

Which organization developed the SDGs?

UN

Match the pollutant with the environmental impact. CO2 emissions lead to CFCs that reach the stratosphere lead to excess fertilizer runoff leads to Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides lead to

climate change ozone completion eutrophication acidification

You are given the following equation and the dimensions of the terms on the right hand side. x=μt+12at2x=μt+12at2 Dimensions: μ=[LT−1],t=[T],a=[LT−2]μ=[LT−1],t=[T],a=[LT−2] What units for x would ensure dimensional consistency? Select all that apply:

kilometers, foot

An LCA comparing alternative material options for bridge design.

mile of bridge for one year

An LCA comparing the environmental impacts of an iPhone and an Android phone

one year of smart phone use

An LCA comparing a proposed urban light rail rapid transit system with expanded bus service.

passenger-mile traveled

Which pillar of sustainability is missing? Economic, Environmental,

social

An LCA comparing alternative designs for a new multi-level commercial building.

square foot-year

An LCA comparing the impacts of landfilling, recycling, and composting residential waste.

ton of waste generated