Environmental Engineering Flashcards
6 cards from real BE/B Eng Bachelor of Engineering practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Environmental Engineering flashcards as text
In the US, which federal law primarily regulates the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters?
Answer: Clean Water Act (CWA)
The Clean Water Act (1972) establishes the framework for regulating pollutant discharges into US waters and sets water quality standards for surface waters.
What is the primary purpose of activated sludge in wastewater treatment?
Answer: To use microorganisms to biologically degrade dissolved organic matter
The activated sludge process introduces air into wastewater mixed with a dense microbial community, enabling aerobic bacteria to metabolize and remove dissolved organic pollutants.
What is the primary health risk associated with lead contamination in drinking water?
Answer: Neurological damage, especially in children
Lead is a potent neurotoxin; even low-level exposure causes irreversible cognitive and behavioral damage in children, affecting IQ, attention, and academic performance.
Which renewable energy source generates electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of wind?
Answer: Wind turbine
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of moving air into rotational mechanical energy, which drives a generator to produce electricity.
In environmental impact assessment (EIA), what is the purpose of the scoping phase?
Answer: To identify the significant issues and potential impacts that should be studied in detail
Scoping defines the boundaries and focus of an EIA by identifying which environmental issues, alternatives, and impacts warrant detailed study, reducing unnecessary analysis.
What is the function of a cyclone separator in industrial air pollution control?
Answer: To use centrifugal force to separate particles from a gas stream
A cyclone separator spins the gas stream, creating centrifugal force that drives heavier particles to the wall and down into a collection hopper, separating them from the cleaned gas.