Smog Lab Report
Instructions: In this lab activity, you will examine the sources and impacts of air pollution. You will run
several trials during the lab. Each trial will examine the impact of a different independent variable. Make
sure to develop a hypothesis before observing each trial. Once the trial is complete, compare your
hypothesis to the actual results. Use this lab report to collect data and analyze your results. Submit your
lab report to your instructor when completed.
Title: Smog Lab
Objective(s):
- outline the process of thermal inversion
- describe the sources of common air pollutants
Variables:
The variables are described in detail in your virtual lab activity. Be sure to read these descriptions in the
virtual lab before completing this section. List your controlled variables, independent variable, and
dependent variable of the lab activity.
Hypothesis:
Prediction 1: If we increase the wind velocity, the maximum vertical dispersal height and rate of
diffusion will increase.
Prediction 2: If we increase the humidity, the maximum vertical dispersal height will decrease
after 24 hours.
Prediction 3: If we increase the lapse rate, the maximum vertical dispersal height of the
pollutants will increase.
Observing different trials will show us if your hypotheses are supported or not.
Procedure:
Access the virtual lab and complete the procedures described. Provide a brief summary of the
steps you followed during the experimental procedure.
Materials:
Smog Virtual Lab
Summary of Steps:
A brief summary of the steps I followed was getting the information from the virtual lab
and including it into my data tables down below to get the most accurate information.
Data:
Table 1: Wind Velocity and Maximum Vertical Dispersal Height
Distance (m) Time (min.) Maximum Height (m.)
Trial 1 4000meters 67.5 min 510meters
(velocity
of 1)
Trial 2 4000meters 22.8 min 455meters
(velocity
of 3)
Table 2: Humidity Level and Maximum Vertical Dispersal Height
Distance (m) Time (min.) Maximum Height (m.)
Trial 1 4000meters 67.5 min 500meters
(DRY)
Trial 2 4000meters 68.3 min 610meters
(HUMID)
Table 3: Lapse Rate and Maximum Vertical Dispersal Height
Distance (m) Time (min.) Maximum Height of Minimum Height of
Pollution (m.) Pollution (m.)
Trial 1 4000meters 67.5 min 500meters 490meters
(0.0
lapse
rate)
Trial 2 4000meters 68.3 min 610meters 500meters
(5.0
lapse
rate)
Conclusion
Write a conclusion statement that addresses the following questions:
● Describe how wind velocity, humidity, and lapse rate affected the dispersal of smoke.
● Does your data support or fail to support your hypotheses (include examples)?
The experiment demonstrated that wind velocity, humidity, and lapse rate each play a unique role in how
smoke disperses. When wind velocity increased, the time for dispersal decreased, but the smoke didn’t
rise as high—Trial 1 (velocity of 1) reached 510 meters in 67.5 minutes, while Trial 2 (velocity of 3) only
reached 455 meters in 22.8 minutes. This suggests that stronger winds spread pollutants horizontally but
limit their upward movement, which contradicts Prediction 1. Humidity, on the other hand, appeared to
enhance vertical dispersal, as seen in Trial 1 (dry conditions) where the smoke reached 500 meters, while
in Trial 2 (humid conditions) it climbed to 610 meters. This directly contradicts Prediction 2, which
expected the opposite effect. Meanwhile, a higher lapse rate contributed to a greater rise in pollutants,
supporting Prediction 3—Trial 1 (0.0 lapse rate) saw a 500-meter rise, whereas Trial 2 (5.0 lapse rate)
allowed the smoke to ascend to 610 meters due to increased atmospheric instability. In summary, the
data supports only Prediction 3, while Predictions 1 and 2 were not upheld. Wind speed quickened
dispersal but lowered vertical spread, and humidity surprisingly helped pollutants rise instead of
suppressing them.
Post-Lab Reflection Questions
Answer the reflection questions, using what you have learned from the lesson and your experimental
data. It will be helpful to refer to your class notes. Answer questions in complete sentences.
1. Identify some sources, control strategies, and human health effects of air pollution.
2. How do wind and weather impact air pollution?
3. Describe how air pollution is increased and decreased and the factors involved.
4. Explain thermal inversion and its harmful effects.
5. Compare and contrast diffusion and convection and the impact on dispersal of air pollution.
1. Air pollution results from car exhaust, factory fumes, and even wildfires. We can do this by
regulating factories more strongly, using greener energy, and encouraging the use of public
transportation. This pollution affects human health through various diseases, including
respiratory problems, heart disease, and even cancers. It also has a huge impact on vulnerable
groups, including children, elders, and patients with chronic illnesses.
2. Wind either blows it away or holds it in the same place in case of still air. The weather also is
important: rains help clean up the air because of the washout of all pollutants, but hot and dry
conditions only enhance pollution by generating more ozone and smog.
3. Pollution tends to get worse when we use more fuel, cut down forests, or run industries that
don’t consider the environment. More people and cars on the road make things worse, too. But
we can reduce pollution by using cleaner energy, enforcing stricter regulations, and even relying
on good weather, like rain or wind, to clear things up.
4. Thermal inversion occurs when the warm layer of air overlays the cooler air near the ground,
preventing the upward rise and dispersion of pollution. All pollutants will accumulate in one
place, and hence make breathing difficult; in a city, it can result in really bad smog.
5. Diffusion refers to the way pollutants spread out from one place, very slowly, and thus do not
really help clean large distances. Convection refers to the rising of warm air carrying with it all
sorts of pollutants, which, of course, greatly speeds up the dispersal process over sizable areas.
