Living in the Environment
Living in the Environment
18th Edition
ISBN: 9781133940135
Author: G. Tyler Miller
Publisher: CENGAGE L
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 22, Problem 3EFA
To determine

The reduction in percentage and the average distance driven that to reduce the annual carbon footprint calculated in Question 1 by half.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 3EFA

The number of cars have to be reduced by 50 % or the average kilometers that a car be driven in one year have to be reduced to 10,000 km to reduce the annual carbon footprint calculated in Question 1 by half.

Explanation of Solution

Given info:

From Question 1, the carbon footprint per car produced by one car in a year is about 4 metric tons or 4,000 kg per year if on an average, it is driven 20,000 km in one year; at such a rate and assuming the total number of cars in the city to be 7 million, about 28 million metric tons (28,000,000 metric tons) of carbon dioxide is produced in a year.

It is given that an internal combustion engine in a car releases approximately 200 grams (0.2 kilograms or 0.44 pounds) of CO2 per kilometer if it is driven under normal driving conditions. Now, the approximate amount of CO2 released from a car engine cannot change all of a sudden. However, in order to bring down the annual emission of CO2 from a car, the kilometers it is being driven have to be reduced. The value for CO2 released from a car engine was obtained in Question 1 as 4000 kg/ yr. Half of this value is 2000 kg/yr

In Question 1, carbon dioxide released by the engine of a car in one year if it is driven on an average of 20,000 kilometers a year was calculated using the expression given below:

(CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year)=(CO2 released by the engine of a car per kilometer)×(Number of kilometers the car was driven in one year)

The reduction in the average car driven distance can be calculated by replacing the value for CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year with 2000 kg instead of 4000 kg and rearranging the above expression as given below:

(Number of kilometers the car can be driven in one year)=(CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year)(CO2 released by the engine of a car per kilometer)

Substitute 0.2 kg for the CO2 released by the engine of a car per kilometer and 2000 kg for CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year in the above expression to obtain the number of kilometers the car can be driven in one year to reduce the CO2 emission by half the value obtained in Question 1.

(Number of kilometers the car can be driven in one year)=(2000 kg)(0.2 kg)=10,000 km

Hence, to reduce the annual carbon footprint calculated in Question 1 by half, the number of kilometers a car is driven annually on an average have to be reduced to 10, 000 km from 20,000 km, which means the number of kilometers were also reduced by 50%.

In Question 1, the total number of metric tons of CO2 that is produced by all the cars in the city in 1 year was be obtained using the given expression:

(Total number of metric tons of CO2 that are produced by all the cars in the city during 1 year)=(No. of metric tons of CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year)×(Total number of cars driven in the city)

As of Question 1, the total number of metric tons of CO2 that is produced by all the cars, assumed as 7 million, in the city in 1 year was obtained as 28,000,000 metric tons when the number of metric tons of CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year was 4 metric tons.

Now, in order to reduce the value of CO2 released by cars in one year by half the value obtained in Question 1 (that is, half of 28,000,000, which is 14,000,000), keep the value of CO2 released by the engine of a car per year to be 4 metric tons itself; the above expression can be rearranged along with the replacement of some values. The equation then becomes as follows:

(Total number of cars driven in the city)=(Total number of metric tons of CO2 that are produced by all the cars in the city during 1 year)(No. of metric tons of CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year)

Substitute 14,000,000 for the total number of metric tons of CO2 that is produced by all the cars in the city in 1 year and 4 metric tons for the number of metric tons of CO2 released by the engine of a car in one year in the above expression to reduce the CO2 emission from all the cars in the city by half the value obtained in Question 1.

(Total number of cars driven in the city)=(14,000,000)(4 metric tons)=3,500,000

Hence, to reduce the annual carbon footprint calculated in Question 1 by half, the number of cars that can be driven annually has to be reduced from 7 million to 3.5 million, which means the number of cars have to be reduced by 50%.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
4. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.15? From the Ordovician period through the Permian period. 5. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.16? From the Cambrian period through the Permian period.  6. Imagine that you have discovered a rock outcrop that contains the fossils identified in Questions 4 and 5. What is the geologic range of this rock?From theperiod through the period.
4. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.15? From the period through the period5. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.16? From the                             period through the     period.
ACTIVITY 10.6 Types of Fossils Pg 174 1. Refer to Figure 10.13. Which photo(s) (A-1) best illustrate(s) the methods of fossilization or fossil evidence listed below? (Photos/letters may be used more than once.)Permineralization: The small internal cavities and pores of an original organism that are filled with precipitated mineral matter. Photo(s):Cast: The space once occupied by a dissolved shell or other structure that is subsequently filled with mineral matter. Photo(s):Carbonization: Preservation that occurs when fine sediment encases delicate plant or animal forms and leaves a residue of carbon, Photo(s):Impression: A replica of an organism, such as a leaf, left in fine-grained sedimentary rock. Photo(s):Amber: Hardened resin of ancient trees that preserved delicate organisms such as insects. Photo(s):Indirect evidence: Traces of prehistoric life but not the organism itself. Photo(s):
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134041360
Author:Greg Carbone
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:9781260153125
Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134543536
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:9781337569613
Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:9781259916823
Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,