Question

The burden of man-made aerosol sulfate in the earth's atmosphere, in grams per square meter, is B(x, n) = xn A where x is the total weight of aerosol sulfate emitted into the atmosphere per year and n is the number of years it remains in the atmosphere. A is the surface area of the earth, approximately 5.1 × 1014 square meters.† (a) Calculate the burden, given the 1995 estimated values of x = 1.5 × 1014 grams per year, and n = 5 days. (Round the answer to three decimal places.)

Answer 1

Burden is approximately 0.004 grams per square meters.

Explanation:

We are given the following information in the question:

Burden, grams per square meter is given by:

`B(x,n) = \displaystyle(xn)/(A)`

where x is total weigth, n is the number of years and A =
`5.1* 10^(14)` square meters

We are given that

x =
`1.5* 10^(14)` grams per year

n = 5 days =
`5* 0.00273973 = 0.01369865\text{ year}`

Calculation:

`B(x,n) = B(1.5* 10^(14), 0.01369865) = \displaystyle(1.5* 10^(14)* 0.01369865)/(5.1* 10^(14))\\\\= 0.00402901470588 \approx 0.004`

Hence, burden is 0.004 grams per square meters.