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Matric. No:
QUESTION 1
On 21 June 2013, the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading in Singapore reached a record high
of 401 as a result of a transboundary haze situation. According to the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards, this PSI reading corresponded to a PM10 value of approximately 500 g m-3.
An average adult has a normal breathing rate of about 15 breathes/min and inhales/exhales about
0.5 L per breath. During a haze situation, the lungs will need to exert sufficient pressure to expel
air containing particulate materials out of the body through the trachea (windpipe). Assume that
the trachea of an average adult can be modeled as a smooth, vertical pipe with length 15 cm and
diameter 2 cm. Air containing 10 m particles of density 1800 kg m-3 with a solid concentration
of 500 g m-3 is inhaled at the normal breathing rate. The density and viscosity of air may be
taken to be 1.2 kg m-3 and 1.8 10-5 Pas respectively and the terminal velocity of the particles
may be approximated based on Stokes Law. Determine the pressure that needs to be developed
by the lungs in order to transport air containing the above particulate materials through the
trachea. (Hint: You may wish to use the Fluid-Solid Systems modeling software to check your
final numerical answer)
(20 marks)