Question

Suppose the combustion of fossil fuels continues to increase until it adds 2.201 × 1013 kilograms of carbon to the atmosphere each year as CO₂. What is the total amount of carbon added to the atmosphere in 10 years?

1) 2.201 × 1014 kilograms
2) 2.201 × 1015 kilograms
3) 2.201 × 1016 kilograms
4) 2.201 × 1017 kilograms

Answer 1

To find the total amount of carbon added to the atmosphere over 10 years, multiply the annual addition of 2.201 × 10^13 kg by 10, resulting in 2.201 × 10^14 kg, which is option 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the total amount of carbon added to the atmosphere due to the combustion of fossil fuels over a 10-year period, given a constant annual addition. If the combustion of fossil fuels adds 2.201 × 1013 kilograms of carbon to the atmosphere as CO₂ each year, then in 10 years, the total amount of carbon added to the atmosphere would be 10 times this annual amount.

To calculate the total carbon added over 10 years, you would multiply the annual addition by 10:

2.201 × 1013 kg/year × 10 years = 2.201 × 1014 kilograms

Hence, the total amount of carbon added to the atmosphere in 10 years would be 2.201 × 1014 kilograms, which is option 1).