4.2. Micro Balance and Optical Methods

Try these first

1. 1.

   What unit is used to measure particulate matter concentrations?

   Hint

   Think about the common units in air quality measurements.

2. 2.

   What type of sampler typically uses a cyclone design?

   Hint

   Consider the functions related to separating particles.

3. 3.

   What is the primary drawback of cheaper particulate matter sampling methods?

   • Higher accuracy
   • Loss of information
   • Increased sampling time

   Hint

   Think about the tradeoff between cost and data quality.

4. 4.

   True or False: PM 2.5 is always less than or equal to PM 10.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider what the sizes represent.

5. 5.

   A high-volume sampler runs for 10 hours at a flow rate of 800 liters per minute. Calculate the total volume of air collected and the expected concentration if 3 grams of PM is trapped.

   Hint

   Don’t forget to convert liters to cubic meters for final concentration calculations.

6. 6.

   Discuss how environmental factors could affect the accuracy of real-time optical measurements compared to gravimetric methods in an urban setting.

   Hint

   Consider the physical versus optical properties of air sampling.