Air Pollution and Control Week 5 NPTEL Assignment Answers 2025

NPTEL Air Pollution and Control Week 5 Assignment Answers 2024

1. What is the primary cause of exhaust emissions from vehicles?

  • Brake wear
  • Road resuspension
  • Incomplete combustion in the engine chamber
  • Evaporation of gasoline

Answer: c
Explanation: Exhaust emissions primarily result from the incomplete combustion of fuel in the engine chamber, which leads to pollutants like CO, NOx, and HC being released into the atmosphere.


2. What pollutants are associated with non-exhaust emissions from vehicles?

  • PM10, PM2.5, and heavy metals
  • Carbon monoxide (CO)
  • Hydrocarbons (HC)
  • Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Answer: a
Explanation: Non-exhaust emissions arise from brake wear, tire wear, and road dust resuspension, which release particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) and heavy metals into the air.


3. Which of the following air pollutants is NOT considered in the VAPI (Vehicular Air Pollution Inventory) model?

  • CO
  • CO2
  • PM
  • O3

Answer: d
Explanation: The VAPI model focuses on pollutants directly emitted from vehicles like CO, CO2, and PM. Ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant formed in the atmosphere and is not directly modeled in VAPI.


4. Emissions of which of the following air pollutants is NOT estimated by the GAINS model?

  • Heavy metals
  • PM
  • VOC
  • NH3

Answer: a
Explanation: The GAINS model estimates emissions of major pollutants including PM, VOCs, NOx, SO2, and NH3, but it does not include heavy metals in its standard inventory.


5. What modes of operation are available for the GAINS (Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies) model?

  • Only in “optimization” mode
  • Only in “scenario analysis” mode
  • Only in “simulation” mode
  • In both “scenario analysis” and “optimization” modes

Answer: d
Explanation: The GAINS model supports both scenario analysis and optimization, allowing policymakers to evaluate strategies for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.


6. There are emissions of various pollutants and GHGs from agricultural activities. Which of the following GHGs is released by livestock’s enteric fermentation and rice cultivation?

  • N2O
  • CO2
  • CH4
  • O3

Answer: c
Explanation: Methane (CH4) is released during enteric fermentation in livestock and anaerobic decomposition in flooded rice fields.


7. How do NH3 emissions from agricultural activities interact in the atmosphere, producing secondary inorganic aerosols?

  • React with CO2
  • React with CH4
  • React with SO2 and NOx
  • React with O3

Answer: c
Explanation: Ammonia (NH3) reacts with sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere to form secondary inorganic aerosols, such as ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate.


8. Which of the following is considered as a fuel combustion activity in the commercial sector?

  • Domestic cooking
  • Boiler operation
  • Fireplace use
  • Rural heating

Answer: b
Explanation: Boiler operation is a typical fuel combustion activity in the commercial sector, used for generating heat or steam.


9. Aerosol Optical Depth expresses the quantity of light removed from a beam by ___ by aerosols during its path through the atmosphere.

  • Dispersion
  • Diffusion
  • Scattering
  • Adsorption

Answer: c
Explanation: Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) measures light scattering and absorption by aerosols. Among the options, scattering is the main mechanism considered.


10. What does Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) correlate in satellite-based air quality monitoring?

  • Atmospheric pressure
  • Atmospheric temperature
  • Particulate concentrations
  • Wind velocity

Answer: c
Explanation: AOD correlates strongly with particulate matter concentrations in the atmosphere, helping monitor air pollution using satellite remote sensing.