1B3 Real-World Problems Flashcards
Describe how science and engineering can help mitigate issues related to the environment, sustainability, or energy resources.
How does engineering design help address social challenges?
The process inspires innovative solutions tailored to address issues.
Issues that can be addressed with this process include clean water, affordable housing, and public transportation.
Examples include water filtration systems, modular housing designs, and urban mobility solutions.
How do technological advancements impact environmental challenges?
Advancements can both contribute to and mitigate environmental challenges by enabling innovative solutions.
These solutions can reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and mitigate pollution, but they can also cause pollution and health issues.
Examples include plastic waste and emissions from energy production.
Why is it essential to integrate science and engineering in energy resource management?
Science helps identify energy challenges and understand resource dynamics, while engineering develops and optimizes technologies for sustainable energy use.
## Footnote
This integration ensures innovations like energy storage and efficient grid systems are feasible.
True or false:
Engineering designs based on physics principles are critical for achieving sustainable development goals.
True
Physics contributes to cleaner energy, efficient resource use, and technologies for reducing pollution.
Fill in the blank:
Physics helps mitigate environmental problems by providing _________ ______ to study and solve challenges like climate change or energy inefficiency.
quantitative models
These models predict outcomes and optimize systems, such as weather simulations or energy use.
How can engineering design help mitigate climate change?
By creating energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy systems, and carbon capture methods.
Examples include wind turbines, electric vehicles, and carbon storage facilities.
Which engineering principle is key when designing energy-efficient solutions to combat climate change?
Optimization
This ensures maximum efficiency with minimal resource use.
True or false:
Thermodynamics plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing climate change.
True
Thermodynamics explains how heat energy moves within the atmosphere, influencing weather patterns and global temperatures. Concepts like the greenhouse effect are rooted in thermodynamic principles.
Explain why light scattering is relevant in addressing ozone depletion.
It helps scientists study UV radiation and its interaction with atmospheric particles, revealing ozone layer damage.
Spectroscopy measures UV absorption by ozone molecules.
What role does the ozone layer play in astronomy?
It filters UV radiation, necessitating satellites for accurate UV readings from space.
Satellites are used to study UV emissions from young stars.
True or false:
Physics plays a crucial role in developing advanced materials for environmental applications, such as removing pollutants from water and air.
True
Nanotechnology, based on quantum mechanics, enables materials like carbon nanotubes to filter contaminants.
What role does engineering play in reducing noise pollution?
Engineers design soundproof materials, quieter engines, and urban layouts that minimize noise impact.
Innovations like noise barriers on highways and electric buses are key solutions.
How does the study of sound waves help mitigate noise pollution?
Physics principles are used to design noise-canceling systems that interfere with unwanted sound waves through destructive interference.
Such systems are applied in urban and industrial settings.
How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?
Gases in the atmosphere can trap infrared radiation, raising Earth’s temperature and preventing heat from escaping back into space.
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor (H₂O), trap heat, leading to the greenhouse effect, which increases global temperatures and disrupts climate patterns.
What role does Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play in sustainability?
*Track deforestation, water resources, and pollution
*Enables sustainable urban planning
*Disaster management and conservation efforts
It is used by wildlife agencies to track invasive species and protect ecosystems.
Fill in the blank:
Satellite _______ is used for tracking land use changes, detecting invasive species, and forecasting weather patterns.
imagery
Satellite imagery provides up-to-date maps for better environmental management.
What is the connection between fluid dynamics and air pollution control?
It helps simulate and predict how pollutants disperse in the atmosphere by analyzing airflow, turbulence, and chemical interactions.
By studying how pollutants move, scientists and engineers can design solutions to trap and limit pollutants. Cyclone separators and scrubbers are examples of such designs.
How is optics used in sustainable water purification methods?
They enable UV sterilization to purify water.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is used to destroy bacteria, viruses, and harmful microorganisms in water.
True or false:
Materials with high thermal conductivity are ideal for sustainable building insulation.
False
Sustainable building insulation requires low thermal conductivity materials to reduce heat transfer and improve energy efficiency. High thermal conductivity materials, like metals, allow heat to pass through easily, making them poor insulators. Instead, materials like fiberglass, cellulose, and foam are used for insulation because they trap air and minimize heat flow.
Why is infrared spectroscopy crucial for monitoring climate change?
It detects and measures greenhouse gas concentrations by analyzing how gases like CO₂, CH₄ (methane), and H₂O (water vapor) absorb infrared radiation.
The process of identifying gases involves measuring their unique absorption of infrared light. This data is essential for creating accurate climate models.
Explain how engineering contributes to protecting the ozone layer.
By developing alternatives to ozone-depleting substances.
Examples include eco-friendly refrigerants and aerosol propellants. These innovations follow global agreements like the Montreal Protocol.
Define:
Environmental sustainability
Responsible management of natural resources to meet present needs without depleting or harming ecosystems for future generations.
## Footnote
This involves practices like conservation, renewable energy, and reducing waste.
How does the principle of conservation of mass relate to recycling processes?
It states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. In recycling, this principle ensures that materials are not wasted but instead reprocessed into new products.
## Footnote
This is applied in separating and repurposing materials like metals or plastics.
True or false:
Technologies like magnetic separation are not effective in recycling processes.
False
Magnetic separation efficiently recovers materials like iron and steel from waste streams.
Fill in the blank:
Understanding _______ _______ is essential for developing sustainable alternatives to plastics.
Material properties
These properties can include the material’s tensile strength or thermal resistance. Physics guides the creation of alternatives like biodegradable polymers.
How do mechanical properties influence the reuse of materials in construction?
It ensures materials can withstand stress, strain, and environmental conditions, making reuse safe and practical.
Examples include recycled steel and concrete.
Define:
Energy efficiency
The ability to use less energy to perform the same task or achieve the same outcome.
Energy-efficient technologies include LED lighting and high-performance appliances.
Why is energy efficiency critical in the design of modern appliances?
It minimizes energy waste, reduces environmental impact, and lowers operational costs.
It also helps minimize carbon emissions, supporting sustainable energy use. Technologies like inverter motors, smart sensors, and improved insulation enhance appliance performance while conserving energy. Examples include LED lighting and Energy Star-rated devices.
What physics concept explains the operation of geothermal energy plants?
Thermodynamics, where heat from the Earth’s interior is converted into usable energy.
Steam from underground reservoirs powers turbines.
Explain how energy storage solutions like capacitors or batteries support renewable energy use.
They store excess energy for later use, ensuring a steady supply when production fluctuates.
Batteries enhance energy efficiency by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. They rely on electrochemical processes, while capacitors store electrical charge.
How do wave energy converters demonstrate the law of conservation of energy in power generation?
Wave energy converters transforms the motion of waves in power turbines or hydraulic systems into electricity for sustainable power generation.
## Footnote
These systems often use floating devices that move with wave motion.
Which physics principle explains how batteries store and release energy in sustainable energy systems?
The principle of energy conversion.
Batteries work by storing chemical energy to be converted to electrical energy. Optimizing energy density and efficiency is key for sustainability.
How does Newton’s laws of motion support sustainable transportation?
It help engineers design fuel-efficient vehicles by improving aerodynamics, reducing friction, and optimizing acceleration.
## Footnote
This can be done by reducing friction and improving aerodynamics. Lightweight materials and aerodynamic shapes are key innovations.
Define:
Nonrenewable energy
Energy derived from finite resources like coal, oil, and natural gas.
These resources take millions of years to form, emit greenhouse gases, and are not replenished on a human timescale.
What is the importance of renewable energy sources in addressing energy challenges?
They reduce reliance on nonrenewable resources, lower carbon emissions, and promote energy security.
Sources of energy like solar and wind power are sustainable and harness natural processes.
Fill in the blank:
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, are considered more sustainable because they produce __________ greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.
fewer
Renewable energy sources are key to reducing the environmental impact of energy production.
How does the photoelectric effect contribute to solar energy technologies?
It allows solar panels (photovoltaic cells) to convert light energy into electrical energy.
## Footnote
This discovery by Einstein laid the foundation for photovoltaics. When sunlight strikes a semiconductor material (like silicon), it excites electrons, generating an electric current.
True or false:
Nuclear fission is classified as a renewable energy source because it provides long-term energy without depleting resources.
False
While it produces low emissions, nuclear fuel like uranium is finite and nonrenewable.
Fill in the blank:
Hydropower harnesses the ________ energy of water stored at a height to generate electricity through turbines.
potential
This energy is converted to kinetic and then electrical energy using turbines.
How do physicists and engineers work together to develop solutions for environmental challenges?
Physicists study underlying principles, while engineers apply these to create practical solutions.
Examples include designing energy-efficient systems or reducing pollution.
True or false:
Sustainability can only be achieved through technological advancements.
False
While technology is critical, societal behavior and policies are equally important.
How has technology contributed to advancements in farming?
It has introduced farming techniques, such as mechanized farming, genetically modified crops, and automated harvesting.
These advancements have increased food production, reduced labor costs, and supported urbanization by enabling fewer farmers to feed larger populations.
How has technology improved agricultural productivity and food quality?
It has led to the production of quality and nutritious food on large scales.
This change contributes to the increase of the world population.
How can technology-driven solutions help cities become more sustainable and eco-friendly?
- Renewable Energy
- Smart waste management
- Sustainable urban farming
These initiatives promote sustainable lifestyles in urban areas.
What is the role of ethics in developing energy technologies?
Ensuring technologies are sustainable, accessible, and cause no harm to the environment or society.
Ethical considerations balance innovation with responsibility.
True or false:
Convenience-based technologies, such as single-use plastics, can lead to long-term environmental harm.
True
Single-use plastics are a major source of pollution due to their widespread use and slow decomposition rate.
