Carbon Monoxide Safety

Goal: If the same engine was operated in this room, how fast will the safe ceiling of 200 ppm be reached. Make an estimation before continuing.



Procedure:

1. Looking at the graph above, how many minutes into the activity did the room become unsafe?


When did the room return to safe levels of carbon monoxide (after the engine stopped)?


2. What is the size of the room in the graph above?



3. What are the dimensions of this room (the one you are in now)? Use your tape measure and calculators.



4. What is the volume of this room?



5. Write a proportion and then solve to find the answer to this problem.
If the same engine was operated in this room, how many minutes will the safe ceiling of 200 ppm be reached?






Teacher Notes: CARBON MONOXIDE DANGERS

CTE Goal: Understanding the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.


Math Goal: Students will be reviewing volume and proportions.


CTE Situation: Show the included power point through slide #9 for today’s goal. Do not tell the students what they are studying today....let them guess with the power point slides. Discuss the need for proper ventilation with combustible engines in an enclosed space.




Similar CTE Situation: Many home today require a carbon monoxide detector. Most detectors will sense 70 ppm in an hour or 400 ppm in 4 minutes. A faulty furnace can produce up to 1600 ppm which can cause headaches and nausea in 20 minutes and death in 1 hour. How many deaths are there from carbon monoxide poisoning in U.S. homes in 1year?


Materials Needed: For each group, you will need a tape measure and calculators (if allowed)




Teacher Notes: This lesson can be applied in multiple mathematic areas including quadratics, exponentials, and piecewise functions.. This lesson is given early in the year when safety is often taught. Therefore, a simple review of volume is the first objective. If taught with Algebra 1 or Algebra 2, it should be extended into interpretation of graphs, domain and range, and identifying pieces of the piecewise function. All of these topics would be considered introductory in the Algebra 2 classroom (or at the very least review).