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ENGR 202 > Environmental Impacts of the Automobile > Flashcards

Environmental Impacts of the Automobile Flashcards

1
Q

Environmental impacts due to automobiles are uniquely related to engineering design decisions that determine the release of pollutants.

A

False - land use decisions (construction of roads, parking lots) are also related.

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2
Q

Improvements in fuel economy have lead to actual, measurable decreases in CO2 emissions.

A

True.

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3
Q

What are the three (types of) gases emitted by automobiles, besides CO2?

A

Hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NO), and carbon monoxide (CO).

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4
Q

Which of the 3 (types of) of non-CO2 gases emitted by automobiles lead to the formation of photochemical smog?

A

HC and NO gases.

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5
Q

Name a chemical compound that falls under the umbrella of photochemical smog?

A

Ozone.

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6
Q

Energy from what source causes HC and NO to react and form photochemical smog?

A

Heat from the sun.

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7
Q

Which of the 3 (types of) non-CO2 gases emitted by automobiles is also known as a volatile organic compound (VOC)?

A

Hydrocarbons (HC).

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8
Q

Although photochemical smog is made up of a number of chemical compounds, it is measured as an equivalent of which specific compound?

A

Ozone.

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9
Q

When/why do automobiles emit CO and HC?

A

Due to the incomplete combustion of fuel.

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10
Q

Hydrocarbons, when not the product of incomplete combustion, is emitted in what form?

A

As gasoline vapors.

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11
Q

Where do HCs come from when in the form of gasoline vapor (3)?

A

Hot engines, from the venting of the engine crankcase, and from the venting/refilling of fuel tanks.

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12
Q

Why do nitrogen oxides form during combustion?

A

Combustion supplies high temperatures that allow NOs to form by chemical reactions between nitrogen and oxygen in the air.

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13
Q

In what type of areas does the automobile’s 3 non-CO2 air pollutants pose the most significant environmental problems?

A

Urban.

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14
Q

Overall vehicle usage can be tracked by total vehicle-miles of travel (VMT) per year. How is VMT calculated for a given year?

A

(miles travelled per vehicle) X (total number of vehicles).

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15
Q

Actual on-road emissions are generally higher than federal test cycle values.

A

True.

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16
Q

Why are NO2 emissions underestimated by federal test cycle values?

A

Higher average speeds cause higher NO2 emissions.

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17
Q

Why are overall emissions underestimated by federal test cycle values?

A

Improper maintenance or tampering with emission control systems.

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18
Q

Why are HC & CO emissions underestimated by federal test cycle values?

A

Cogged air filters and dirty spark plugs.

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19
Q

Why do light trucks (as opposed to regular cars) have increased environmental impact?

A

Heavier vehicles consume more gasoline and emit more CO2, HC, and NO, per mile of travel.

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20
Q

What record percentage of the market did truck SUVs reach in model year 2021?

A

45%

21
Q

What record percentage of the market did pickup trucks reach in model year 2021?

A

16%

22
Q

What social phenomenon has offset the improvements made to each vehicle type’s fuel economy?

A

The trend away from sedans/wagons and towards truck SUVs & pickups.

23
Q

Currently, most motor vehicles worldwide are powered by what two forms of fuel?

A

Gasoline and diesel.

24
Q

Refined into gasoline, diesel oil, and jet fuel, petroleum supplies about what percentage of the energy used for all forms of transportation (in the US)?

A

90%

25
Q

Chemically, petroleum and its derivative fuels consist mainly of what two types of compounds?

A

Carbon and hydrogen compounds.

26
Q

Which gas is the natural product of combustion?

A

CO2

27
Q

Through what part of the car is CO2 released into the atmosphere?

A

Exhaust pipe.

28
Q

For every mole of octane, how many moles of CO2 and water vapor are produced?

A

8 moles of CO2, 9 moles of water vapor.

29
Q

What is the chemical formula for octane?

A

C8H18

30
Q

What programs have significantly alleviated the solid waste problems of discarded automobiles?

A

Recycling and reuse programs.

31
Q

How are non-recyclable car parts typically disposed?

A

Burial in a landfill.

32
Q

Today’s solid waste from automobiles reflects the materials used in cars that were manufactured an average of how long ago?

A

Eight to nine years ago.

33
Q

As the mix of materials used in auto
construction changes over time, the ability to reuse or recycle those materials also may change.

A

True.

34
Q

The environmental contaminants from automobiles can be categorized as either HC/NO/CO emissions or solid waste.

A

False - cars have and still emit lead and CFCs into the atmosphere.

35
Q

The population of older vehicles that use leaded gasoline constitutes the first largest source of U.S. lead emissions.

A

False - second largest, according to the EPA.

36
Q

Why do many non-US countries continue to use leaded gasoline?

A

Lower cost.

37
Q

How do automobiles emit CFCs?

A

Due to CFCs used in automotive air conditioners (pre-Montreal Protocol enforcement).

38
Q

Air conditioning systems in cars that utilize CFCs don’t necessarily emit them - how do they end up in the atmosphere?

A

Via leaks in the air conditioning system over the life of a car.

39
Q

Further production of CFCs has been phased out in the United States and other industrialized nations.

A

True.

40
Q

Generally, what is the last remaining (legal) source of CFCs?

A

Capture and recycling of the existing stock of CFCs will be the only source of these chemicals until they are finally depleted.

41
Q

What are the 4 methods by which to design cleaner cars?

A

Designing for energy efficiency, reducing pollutant formation, alternative fuels, and alternative vehicles.

42
Q

Why is the impact of CH4, N2O and CFCs so significant, if their emissions are small in comparison to CO2?

A

They have a higher global warming potential (GWP).

43
Q

What 5 parts of a car in particular have been redesigned to improve combustion efficiency and reduce NO formation?

A

Engine manifolds, cylinders, pistons, valves, and ignition system components.

44
Q

Besides modified forms of gasoline, name 4 alternative automobile fuels.

A

Diesel, methanol, ethanol, and compressed natural gas.

45
Q

Which alternative fuel is produced from biomass?

A

Ethanol.

46
Q

Alternative fuels promise to reduce what type of automotive emissions in particular?

A

Smog-forming automotive emissions.

47
Q

Name two types of alternative vehicles.

A

Electric and hybrid.

48
Q

Electric vehicles (EVs) have a battery instead of a gasoline tank, but still make use of an internal combustion engine.

A

False - they have an electric motor instead.

49
Q

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have a battery, a gasoline tank, which both feed an internal combustion engine.

A

False - the battery feeds an electric motor.

ENGR 202 (8 decks)

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