GE 422 – 3

ACTIVITY No. 1

Chao-Wen M. Tsai
Name: __________________________________________________Date: _________________Score:_________

BSEE-5
Course: _________________________ Section:___________________ Day/Time:_________________________

I. Define the following:

1. Environmental engineering
The application of science and engineering knowledge and concepts to care for and/or restore
our natural environment and/or solve environmental problems.
2. Air pollutant
Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into
Earth's atmosphere. Sources of air pollution include gases, particulates, and biological
molecules.
3. Global warming
Global warming is the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system.
It is a major aspect of climate change and has been demonstrated by direct temperature
measurements and by measurements of various effects of the warming. Global warming and
climate change are often used interchangeably.
4. Greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the
planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without this atmosphere. Radiatively
active gases in a planet's atmosphere radiate energy in all directions.
5. Renewable resources
A renewable resource is a natural resource which will replenish to replace the portion depleted
by usage and consumption, either through natural reproduction or other recurring processes in
a finite amount of time in a human time scale.
6. Non-renewable resource
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural
means at a quick enough pace to keep up with consumption. An example is carbon-based fossil
fuel. The original organic matter, with the aid of heat and pressure, becomes a fuel such as oil
or gas.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. List three aspect of our natural world that environmental engineers are working
to care/or restore.
1. air quality
2. land quality
 3. water quality

2. List down five effects of air pollution.

1. Respiratory diseases.
2. Cardiovascular damage.
3. Fatigue, headaches and anxiety.
4. Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
5. Damage to reproductive organs.
3. What are the different sources of air pollutants?
Exhaust from trucks and cars, and exhaust from industrial plants.
4. Write down five major air pollutants and their chemical formula.
1. nitrogen oxides (NOx)
2. sulfur oxides (SOx)
3. carbon monoxide (CO)
4. carbon dioxide (CO2)
5. lead (Pb)
5. List down three example of:
a. Renewable resources
1. trees/wood
2. water
3. solar energy
b. Non-renewable resources
1. Coal
2. Oil
3. Natural gas