2. Mass Balance in Sediment Volume

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is mass balance?

   Hint

   Think about inputs and outputs of mass.

2. 2.

   Define diffusion.

   Hint

   It's how substances spread out.

3. 3.

   What is the primary process through which mass enters and exits a sediment volume?

   • Convection
   • Diffusion
   • Evaporation

   Hint

   Recall the mechanism that is mentioned to describe movement of materials.

4. 4.

   True or False: A higher retardation factor results in faster diffusion.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about what retardation means in this context.

5. 5.

   Given a sediment system with known concentration gradients, calculate the diffusion rate using Fick's laws.

   Hint

   Remember to check the values for concentration change and distance.

6. 6.

   Discuss how a change in porosity affects the effective diffusivity in a sediment system.

   Hint

   Think about how movement is impacted by space within solids.