Environment, Safety and Ergonomics

  1.  What are fossil fuels?

Fossil fuels are non renewable energy sources including oil, gas and coal.

  1. What are the major concerns with burning fossil fuels?

Studies show that fossil fuels are responsible for 75% of carbon dioxide emissions and about 50% of greenhouse gas emissions. these emissions tend to trap infrared rays and turn them back toward the Earth. This has a heating effect on the Earth, Since most of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels, scientists worry that the "greenhouse effect" will get worse. If this happens, the global temperature will rise, causing changes in the sea levels that could affect millions of people. Another concern is the depletion of the ozone layer. In 1970's scientists found that chlorofluorocarbons cause damage to the ozone layer. The third major environmental concern is air and water pollution. Examples of harmful pollutants related to vehicles can include carbon monoxide. 

  1. What fuel alternatives are available?

Other fuel alternatives that are available are sunlight, hydrogen, and electric power.

   4. What three government regulations affect vehicle design?

The three government regulations affecting vehicle design are:

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)

  1. Aside from the clean air act, what do you think, is the most significant environmental protection initiative? www.epa.gov  

The most significant initiative requires that all attain federal clean air standards by certain dates and the other is the specific dates depend on each states current air quality because of its current environment problem, California was given a special set of powers under this act.

 

  1. What is the best safety feature on your car? 

Air bags are the best safety feature on our car. 

  1. What are ergonomics?

The word "ergonomics" comes from the Greek words "ergos" and "nomics; "ergos" meaning work and nomics meaning study of. Ergonomics is the study of human factors engineering.

    8.    What factors of ergonomics must you consider when designing a vehicle?

Some ergonomic factors we must consider when designing a vehicle are:

Seat features (height, width, depth, position, contour)

Angle of steering wheel

Readability of gauges (size of labels)

Field of vision (forward, side, and rear view)

Reach for options (radio, climate control, storage, door controls, etc.)

Reach for gas and brake pedals

Headroom

Needs of a special target market (ex. senior citizens)