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Air Pollution Caused by Smokestack Emissions

Team Members: Clifford A. Phifer-Principal
Saundra Johnson-Math Teacher
Alma Phifer-Science Teacher
Nancy Woodley-Science Teacher

Plymouth High School, Plymouth, North Carolina
Table of Contents:
  1. Overview
  2. Objectives
  3. Materials and/or Software Required
  4. Prerequisites
  5. Module Description
  6. National Standards Addressed
  7. Assessment Techniques
  8. Areas of Focus
  9. Appropriate Grade Level(s)
  10. Relevant Links and Related Resources

Overview:

In this module students will collect and apply data from smokestack emissions to the Gaussian Plume Model. Also use data to make inferences relating to health and environmental issues.

Objectives:

Students will be able to interpret and make inferences from data relating to the environment and health issues; and generate testable hypotheses for further study

Materials:

Data Source
Gaussian Plume Model
Java Applet
Excel

Prerequisites:

Students need to know:
•how to enter data in Excel
•how to plug data into a model
•read and interpret graphs
•formulate hypotheses
•research data from various sources (Internet, Registered Deeds Office, etc.)
•that pollution is defined in terms of concentration; not how much total “bad stuff you breathe in but how much “bad stuff” per volume of air you breathe (measured in ppm-parts per million).
•that the EPA has different concentration limits for harmful substances.
•there are ways to reduce the concentration of harmful emissions in the air.
•how the Gaussian Plume Model can be applied to smokestack heights to determine the amount of pollutant emissions

Module Description:

There are nine activities in this module
• Gather data
• Create spread sheets using Excel
• Enter data into the Gaussian Plume Model
• Enter data into Java Applet
• Graph data and interpret graphs
• Interpret visualizations from graphs
• Relate data to health and environmental issues.
• Make inferences based on findings
• Formulate testable hypotheses

National Standards Addressed:

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/overview.html (science)
http://www.nctm.org/standards/ (math)
Technology:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/computer.skills/9_12.html
North Carolina Standards:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/science/standard/093biology.html
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/science/standard/114earth.html
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/mathematics/standard2003/43intromath.html

Assessment Techniques:

http://fno.org/libskill.html

Areas of Focus:

Algebra I
Biology
Earth and Environmental Science

Appropriate Grade Level(s):

9-12



Relevant Links and Related Resources:

http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=6254677
http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/air.html
http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/humahealtheffects.html

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