HMH Unit 1 Lesson 4: Environmental Engineering

Which of these technologies would most likely be developed with the help of an environmental engineer?

• a desalination plant

• a camera for a phone

• a remote steering device

• a battery powered speaker

The nesting site of a bird population is threatened by human impacts. A team of environmental engineers is working on a solution to the problem. The engineers have already brainstormed several possible solutions. Which of these steps should they perform next?

• Build and test a prototype of each possible solution

• Refine each of the solutions based on the results of testing.

• Redefine the problem to clarify the most important criteria

• Evaluate the solutions in regard to the constraints and most important criteria.

An engineer is designing a collar to track the movement of a coyote population. The engineer is performing a cost-benefit analysis of her collar. Which of these would be a cost?

• The collar is easy to apply

• The collar can be reused many times

• The collar does not bother coyotes to wear

• The collar is made of materials that are difficult to mine.

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What is the first step that should be completed in the engineering design process?

• Design a prototype

• Clearly define the problem

• Refine and optimize the solution

• Develop several possible solutions.

Which statement best describes technology?

• the use of electricity to improve communication

• the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

• the use of devices for accurate recording and measurement

• the design of materials with properties suited to specific applications

An engineer used a decision matrix to evaluate different designs. In the matrix, she weighted the design criteria from 0 to 6. What is the purpose of weighting the criteria of the designs?

• to prioritize the most important criteria

• to ensure that all criteria are treated equally

• to help find new solutions to existing problems

• to clearly define the problem the design must solve

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The design of wind turbines has changed greatly over the years. Which statement best explains why engineers have redesigned wind turbines so many times?

• to make them shorter and heavier

• to increase their impact on birds and bats

• to harness the wind's energy more efficiently

• to limit the use of new materials in the turbines’ construction

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Which of these would best help an engineer consider the environmental impact of the materials and wastes that result from producing a design?

• decision matrix

• life-cycle analysis

• delimiting the problem

• brainstorming solutions

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An engineer is studying applications of a biological process. He is using bacteria as a model organism to study the process. Which statement best explains why he would use a model to study a process?

• to avoid having to brainstorm applications of the project

• to test how the process will work under different conditions

• to prevent any future changes from being made to the process

• to be sure that the process is the only possible solution to the problem

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An engineer has developed a new device to filter water for drinking. Which of these would be considered a constraint of the water filter?

• Its use and transportation should be easy.

• It should be able to remove viruses from the water

• It should filter out a variety of different pollutants.

• the material it is made from must cost less than $10

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