Lectures 1 and 2:

relevant questions you should be able to answer

Lecture 1

1. Define suspended and colloidal particles and state the major difference between them.

2. Why are PM10 and PM2.5 particles of major concern from the air pollution standpoint?

3. Why inhalation of PM10 and PM2.5 particles is dangerous to human health?

4. What are the current WHO guidelines for the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10
particles in the atmosphere

5. Discuss the status of Indian cities with regard to PM2.5 concentration in the
atmosphere.

6. Presence of trees is helpful for reducing particulate air pollution. Discuss this statement.

7. Describe the main natural processes for the removal of PM10 and PM2.5 particles from
the atmosphere. Which of these processes is more effective in removing particles from
atmosphere?

8. Define Aerosols.

9. Describe the process of formation of cloud water in the atmosphere and discuss the role
of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in this context.

10. What will happen if cloud condensation nuclei were not present in the atmosphere?

11. Describe the process of conversion of CCN to cloud water and rain drops.

Lecture 2

12. Name some natural sources of fine particles/CCN in the atmosphere.

13. It is said that anthropogenic combustion processes are one of the main sources of fine
particles/CCN in the atmosphere. Discuss.

14. Terrestrial dust particles are generally too big to be considered as fine particles.
However under certain circumstances, road side dust can be transformed to fine
particles. Discuss.
15. Describe two pathways through which secondary aerosols can form in the atmosphere
from gaseous pollutants.

16. Sometimes, secondary aerosols found in the atmosphere are found to be agglomeration
of multiple components. In this context, discuss the process of particle growth in the
atmosphere through the process of coagulation/agglomeration.

17. Explain the role of water in promoting the formation of secondary aerosols in the
atmosphere.

18. Describe how particles of sand, silt and clay are often found suspended in natural water.

19. Describe the difference between sand, silt and clay in terms of size.

20. Describe how sand and silt are transported downstream in a river through the interplay
between settling and scouring

21. Describe how a particle attains constant settling velocity while settling in a fluid.

22. What is the scouring velocity of a particle? What does it depend on.