NPTEL Online Certification Courses

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Sustainable Engineering Concepts and Life Cycle Analysis

Assignment- Week 4
TYPE OF QUESTION: MCQ and MSQ
Number of questions: 10 Total mark: 10 X 2 = 20
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MCQ Questions
QUESTION 1:

What are the four main steps in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology?

a. Define goal and scope, Life cycle inventory stage, Life cycle impact assessment,
Interpretation of the study
b. Define goal and scope, Product manufacturing, Distribution, End-of-life
c. Resource extraction, Product usage, Waste management, Interpretation of the study
d. Resource acquisition, Product distribution, Usage stage, Life cycle impact assessment

Correct Answer: a) Define goal and scope, Life cycle inventory stage, Life cycle impact
assessment, Interpretation of the study

Detailed solution:

LCA methodology consists of four main steps:

• Define goal and scope: Establish the purpose of the study and its boundaries.
• Life cycle inventory (LCI) stage: Collect data on inputs and outputs throughout the life
cycle.
• Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA): Evaluate the potential environmental impacts.
• Interpretation of the study: Analyse results to make informed decisions.

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 NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

QUESTION 2:

What does the term "functional unit" in LCA refer to?

a. The physical unit of the product

b. The amount of service provided by the product
c. The environmental impact category
d. The cost of the product over its lifecycle

Correct Answer: b) The amount of service provided by the product

Detailed Solution:

The functional unit in LCA is a measure of the function of the studied system, serving as a
reference point to which all other data in the study is normalized. It ensures comparability and
consistency.

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QUESTION 3:

Which of the following is a key feature of LCA?

a. Focuses only on the manufacturing stage of a product

b. Includes all environmental aspects of a product's lifecycle
c. Considers only the economic aspects of a product
d. Evaluates the aesthetic value of a product

Correct Answer: b) Includes all environmental aspects of a product's lifecycle

Detailed solution:

LCA takes a comprehensive view, considering the environmental impacts from all stages of a
product's life cycle—from raw material extraction through production, use, and disposal.

_____________________________________________________________________________
 NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

QUESTION 4:

In the context of LCA, what does the term "reference flow" mean?

a. The monetary cost associated with the lifecycle of a product

b. The amount of products required to fulfil the functional unit
c. The environmental impact score of a product
d. The time duration for which a product is used

Correct Answer: b) The amount of products required to fulfil the functional unit

Detailed Solution:

The reference flow is the quantified amount of products, materials, or energy needed to fulfill the
function defined by the functional unit, providing a basis for calculating the inputs and outputs.

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QUESTION 5:

Calculate the total CO2 emissions of a fluorescent light bulb, given that the CO2 emission per
kWh is 0.52 kg and the power rating of the bulb is 14 kWh.

a. 7.28 kg CO2
b. 0.52 kg CO2
c. 14 kg CO2
d. 6.28 kg CO2

Correct Answer: a) 7.28 kg CO2

Detailed solution:

Total CO2 emissions=CO2 emissions per kWh×Total kWh used= 0.52kg*14kWh=7.28 kg CO2

_____________________________________________________________________________
 NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

QUESTION 6:

What does the acronym 'LCI' stand for in the context of LCA?

a. Life Cycle Interpretation

b. Life Cycle Inventory
c. Life Cycle Impact
d. Life Cycle Improvement

Correct Answer: b) Life Cycle Inventory

Detailed Solution:

LCI stands for Life Cycle Inventory, which involves collecting data on all inputs and outputs of a
product system over its lifecycle.

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MSQ Questions
QUESTION 7:

Which tool can be used to model the life cycle of a product? (Select all that apply)

a. SimaPro
b. GaBi
c. Excel
d. AutoCAD

Correct Answer: a, b

Detailed Solution:

SimaPro and GaBi are specialized LCA software tools used to model and analyze the life cycle
of products. Excel can be used for data handling but is not specialized for LCA modeling like
SimaPro and GaBi. AutoCAD is used for design and drafting, not LCA.
_____________________________________________________________________________
 NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

QUESTION 8:

Which of the following impact categories are included in the IMPACT2002+ model? (Select all
that apply)

a. Global warming
b. Ozone layer depletion
c. Water scarcity
d. Noise pollution

Correct Answer: a, b

Detailed Solution:

The IMPACT2002+ model includes impact categories such as global warming and ozone layer
depletion, which assess the potential environmental impacts of greenhouse gases and substances
that deplete the ozone layer. Water scarcity and noise pollution are not typically part of this
model.
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QUESTION 9:

Which environmental interventions are accounted for in the life cycle inventory stage? (Select all
that apply)

a. Natural resource extractions

b. Emissions to air, water, and soil
c. Financial costs of production
d. Social impacts on local communities

Correct Answer: a, b

Detailed Solution:
 NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

The life cycle inventory (LCI) stage involves compiling data on inputs and outputs, including
natural resource extractions and emissions to air, water, and soil. Financial costs and social
impacts are typically not included in LCI.

QUESTION 10:
Which of the following factors are important when defining the functional unit in an LCA study?
(Select all that apply)

a. Quantifiable measure of function

b. Time period of usage

c. Aesthetic design of the product

d. Geographic location of production

Correct Answer: a, b, d

Detailed solution:

Quantifiable measure of function: The functional unit should be a measurable representation of

the product’s function.
Time period of usage: It should reflect the duration over which the product provides its function.
Geographic location of production: This can influence the environmental impacts due to
differences in regional production processes and resource availability.
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