01
True or false
1 point
A device produces no pollution while operating. Is that enough reason to omit its raw-material acquisition and manufacturing from a life-cycle assessment?
Free Practice Quiz Question List
8 Sustainability in Engineering Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 8 Sustainability in Engineering, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
20 questions
02
Written response
1 point
What term describes delivering a required function with less material, energy, water, or waste?
03
Fill in the blank
1 point
In a product life cycle, extracting or growing inputs belongs to , while converting materials into components and assembling the product belongs to .
04
Choose one
1 point
A city is comparing two water filters with different lifetimes and manufacturing impacts. Which approach gives the fairest environmental comparison?
- A
Compare each filter's manufacturing impacts per item, even though they provide different amounts of service.
- B
Compare impacts per same quantity of water filtered over the service life, using consistent assumptions and life-cycle stages.
- C
Compare purchase prices only, because the filters perform the same general task.
- D
Compare the lighter filter's transportation impacts and ignore its other life-cycle stages.
05
Choose all
1 point
Which of the following can be environmental impacts of an engineering project? Select all that apply.
- A
Greenhouse-gas emissions
- B
Habitat disruption
- C
Brand recognition
- D
Water pollution
- E
Toxic substances
06
True or false
1 point
Once a life-cycle assessment uses a structured method, its results no longer depend on the data and assumptions used.
- A
True
- B
False
07
Written response
1 point
What is the name of the structured method used to estimate potential environmental impacts across a product's life cycle?
08
Fill in the blank
1 point
Making a product's components easier to take apart supports easier at the end of its useful life.
09
Choose one
1 point
A more efficient pump requires more material to manufacture but uses less electricity while operating. How should an engineer decide which pump is the better choice?
- A
Choose the pump with the lowest manufacturing impact, regardless of its operating electricity use.
- B
Choose the pump with the lowest purchase price, because that reflects its total impact.
- C
Compare total life-cycle impacts for the required water service, including electricity source, lifetime, maintenance, and end of life.
- D
Choose the pump with the greatest mass, because more material guarantees reliability.
10
Choose all
1 point
Which design actions can improve resource efficiency while still delivering a product's required function? Select all that apply.
- A
Remove parts that are not needed to provide the required function.
- B
Design the product to be durable and repairable.
- C
Improve the product's energy efficiency.
- D
Add packaging even when it provides no needed protection.
11
Choose one
1 point
A company wants to reduce the environmental impacts of product packaging. Which action best applies the priority of preventing impacts first?
- A
Keep all packaging and focus only on improving its recycling rate.
- B
Eliminate packaging that is not needed to protect or deliver the product.
- C
Use more packaging so that sorting facilities can identify it easily.
- D
Replace reusable shipping materials with new disposable materials.
12
Open ended
1 point
Two pumps must move the same specified amount of water over their service lives. One uses more material to manufacture but less electricity in operation. Explain how an engineer should compare them and why purchase price alone is not enough.
13
True or false
1 point
A lighter product is always more sustainable because it uses less transportation energy.
- A
True
- B
False
14
Choose one
1 point
A design team is selecting a material for a new product. Which approach best reflects sustainable material selection?
- A
Choose only the material with the lowest price.
- B
Choose only the lightest material, regardless of toxicity or sourcing.
- C
Choose only the material with the highest recycled content.
- D
Consider durability, toxicity, recycled content, and responsible sourcing together.
15
Choose one
1 point
A design team must keep a product’s function unchanged while reducing the material used to make it. Which redesign best supports resource efficiency?
- A
Add decorative parts so the product appears more substantial.
- B
Remove components that do not contribute to the product’s required function.
- C
Replace repairable components with permanently sealed parts.
- D
Increase packaging to protect the product during storage.
16
Choose one
1 point
An engineer is choosing between materials for a product. Which basis for the decision best reflects sustainable design?
- A
Choose the lightest material, regardless of its source or toxicity.
- B
Choose the lowest-cost material, regardless of how long it lasts.
- C
Compare durability, toxicity, recycled content, and responsible sourcing.
- D
Choose the material that is easiest to manufacture, regardless of its end of life.
17
Written response
1 point
What life-cycle stage covers operating and repairing a product and supplying it with energy or consumables?
18
Choose one
1 point
A manufacturer wants to reduce the resource use associated with discarded products. Which approach best reflects the priorities described for waste strategies?
- A
Prioritize recycling over all other waste strategies.
- B
Prevent waste and reuse products or materials where practical, while using recycling when appropriate.
- C
Dispose of products as soon as they need minor repairs.
- D
Use more material initially so that recycling is the only end-of-life strategy needed.
19
Written response
1 point
What is the name of the structured method used to estimate potential environmental impacts across a product’s life cycle?
20
Choose one
1 point
An engineer is comparing two designs that provide the same service. Which approach makes the environmental comparison fairest?
- A
Compare the alternatives using the same purchase price, even if they provide different amounts of service.
- B
Compare only their manufacturing impacts.
- C
Use each alternative’s most favorable assumptions and compare the results.
- D
Compare impacts for the same specified function using consistent assumptions.