GCSE Design Technology Edexcel: Core Content and Papers and Boards

4 benefits of new technology to industry?

- Better efficiency -> cut costs
-> quicker release of products to market
- Less human error
- Easier manipulation of information/logistics

How is unemployment caused by new technologies?

Unemployment can be caused by new technology performing better than a lower skilled workforce. With robotics, factories can be opened for longer, quality's improved and its safer.

3 advantages of countries gaining people?

- Labour shortages can be overcome
- Migrants are often prepared to take lower paid jobs
- Adds cultural diversity

What is demographic movement?

Demographic movement is the way in which a population's structure alters an changes, eg due to an aging population.

Who are decisions made by in private businesses?

The owner

Advantage of private businesses? (regarding technology)

Often flexible to adopt, adapt and exploit new technologies.

Disadvantage of private businesses? (regarding technology)

May not have funds to invest in cutting edge manufacturing equipment.

What is an enterprise?

a business, particularly one started by someone who shows initiative by taking risk setting up, investing in and running it.

What is crowd funding and how does it help technology?

Crowd funding allows new products to be launched. Many people donate online to bring a product to life. Has to managed appropriately though to succeed.

What is government funding?

Government Funding is available to new businesses that will contribute to the economy.

What are not-for-profit organisations?

Not-for-profit organisations reinvest money in new technologies to help their cause. For eg Charity: Water Aid worked with Google to identify water flow at its projects.

How can companies reduce transportation costs?

Use electric vehicles
Fewer journeys
Lighter/compact products

How does the government encourage reduction of pollution?

Carbon tax
Subsidies

What are the 4 R's?

Reduce, reuse, recycle, recover

What is crowd funding?

a method of raising funds from many people for an enterprise via online platforms

What is sustainability?

The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Advantage of emerging technologies on children?

improve academic and practical skills, e.g. Minecraft offers more creative learning opportunities than traditional toys

Disadvantage of emerging technologies on children?

Could spend more time on electronics rather than socialising and keeping fit

What is pollution?

the release of contaminating substances that are likely to harm the natural environment.

What is recycling?

the process converting waste material into other usable products, such as glass bottles made from recycled glass.

Consumer:

a person who uses goods and services

What is culture?

The way a group of people behave, dress, eat and live. Can be influenced by anything from religion, tradition and history to local food sources, climate and artistic expression

How does social integration have an impact on technology?

Minority populations that live in clusters causes social segregation. Could create social barriers, and limit education, jobs and technologies

3 examples of how technology is changing society

- Change in working hours and shift patterns
- Internet of Things
- Remote working

How is technology causing a change in working hours?

Due to accessibility of work through the internet, maximising the work potential of a person.

Why are materials seperated?

It means fewer useful materials are sent to landfill sites or scrap

Ways to reduce transport costs?

- Produce products locally
- Reduce package sizes
- Reduce overall volumes of products

What is the standardised design and components technique?

- The same components or modular systems are used across many designs
- Usually an individual part, manufactured in large numbers, to an internationally accepted standard.

What is Just-In-Time production?

Computerised stock control ensures that parts are only received when they are needed in the production process and go straight to the production site rather than being stored

What is lean manufacturing?

Reducing or eliminating waste in design, manufacturing distribution and customer services

What is batch production?

A set number of products are manufactured that are made in limited quantities or for a limited time

What is continuous production?

Manufacturing of identical high demand products, 24 hours a day

What is one-off production?

A single unique product made by skilled workers

What is mass production?

- Efficiently and consistently producing many products at a low cost per unit
- Often automated with parts added in sequence

What is ethics?

Balancing behaviour with moral principles when carrying out an activity

What should fairtraders do? (4 things)

- Use raw materials from sustainable sources
- Try to buy materials locally
- Reduce energy consumption (eg renewables)
- Minimise waste to the environment

Four considerations about "Who will benefit?"

- Use raw materials from sustainable sources
- Try to buy materials locally
- Reduce energy consumption (eg renewables)
- Minimise waste to the environment

Three considerations about "Who made it?"

- Hiring low-paid workers in LEDC's leads to child labour and other exploitation
- Workers' rights should be a big priority
- Health and safety should be checked in factory locations

Two considerations about "Where was it made?"

- Cheap labour in other countries: saves costs, exploits workers
- New technologies may produce less pollution and waste

Whch materials should designers opt to use if they want to be environmentally friendly?

- Designers should select materials that are recyclable, lighter and less toxic.

Two considerations regarding the use of materials and the environment

- Consider mined metals, eg energy is needed to convert ore into metal.
- Consider oil is a finite resource that pollutes when refined and doesn't decompose but it is used for plastics.

Problems with renewables?

- Renewables harm habitats and cause visual and noise pollution
- Cleaner energy tends to cost more

Problems with fossil fuels?

- The extraction, transportation and emissions of fossil fuels harm the environment.

How to reduce emissions of CO2 during transport?

Transporting goods uses petroleum, so use energy-efficient or electric vehicles

What is the carbon footprint?

The amount of CO2 emission that can be linked back a company/individual's activities

Five ways to reduce the carbon footprint of something?

- Maximise energy efficiency
- Analyse supply chain
- Recycle
- Use renewable energy
- Identify carbon offsetting methods to reduce amount of emissions

What is a LCA?

Life Cycle Analysis:
A systematic inventory of environmental impacts at every stage of a products life

5 steps of an LCA?

1. Raw material extraction and processing
2. Product/part manufacture and assembly
3. Product/part transportation and distribution
4. Product/consumer use
5. Product disposal or recovery at the end of its useful life.

What it is and how it is converted into Biodiesel

Made from natural elements such as plants, vegetables and fermented waste cooking oil Can be used in diesel-powered vehicles without modifying the engine

What biomass is and how it is converted into energy?

- Organic matter derived from organisms, such as wood, crops, rubbish, landfill gas and alcohol fuels
- Can be used directly via combustion (of wood or biodegradable wastes) to produce heat, or converted to electricity

Name 4 power systems

- Batteries/cells
- Solar cells
- Mains electricty
- Wind power

What are modern materials?

Materials that do not occur naturally, but are existing materials that have been altered to improve their properties

What are smart materials?

Exisiting or modern materials with physical properties that can be varied by an external input such as light or temperature

What are Shape-memory alloys (SMA's)?

Shape-memory alloys can be plastically deformed (changed/stretched/crumpled) and will turn back to their original shape when heated or a current applied

What is photochromic glass? How does it work?

Photochromic glass darkens when exposed to light and reverses in the dark. Particles of silver halide are added to the glass which react with UV light causing a chemical reaction that changes the glass's colour.

Two applications of photochromic glass?

- Sunglasses
- Plane cockpit windows

What is reactive glass?

Uses electrochromic technology to change from transparent to opaque by applying voltage while allowing light to pass through.

Two applications of reactive glass?

Welding masks and windows

What do piezoelectric materials do?

Generate a small electric charge when compressed (sensors) and can work in reverse, generating movement when an electric charge is applied (actuators)

Applications for piezoelectric materials?

Genertaing electricity, SENSORS: burglar alarms, seat belt sensors keypads, microphones,
ACTUATORS: precise precision control eg digital cameras, nozzles.

What are nanomaterials?

Nanomaterials are made of components less than 100 nm in at least on direction. Can be particles nanowires nanotubes etc.

Three applications of nanomaterials?

- Sunscreen
- Tennis rackets
- Fire-retardant.

What are temperature-responsive polymers?

Can change physical properties with a change in temperature

Two applications of temperature-responsive polymers? (explain aswell)

- Deliver drugs, cell/proteins to patients when mixed with a liquid polymer. A gel deposit forms and the drug is released in a controlled way using temperature.
- Sensors and gel activators

What is conductive ink and what does it contain?

Contain pigments that allow a current to flow, usually made with silver, carbon or graphite

Two applications of conductive ink?

- RFID tagging
- Temporary circuit boards

What is a composite?

A composite consists of reinforcing materials and a bonding agent called the matrix

What is plywood?

- Manufactured board of wood veneers bonded with glue to produce a flat sheet
- Always has an odd number of layers (at least three) as they balance the stresses around the central core, making it stable in all directions
- The veneers' grain direction runs at 90° to the sheets above and below it, which also increases the stability
- Graded for exterior or interior use depending upon the glue's water resistance

Examples of plywood (4)

- Sheds, cladding, flooring, furniture

Description of fibre/carbon/glass

- Plastic can be reinforced with fine glass or carbon fibers to make a higher strength-to-weight ratio than its component parts
- Loose or woven fibers form a flexible fabric and are built up in layers with polyester resin
- Reinforced plastic can be sanded for a smooth finish and painted or colour added at the start of the process

Two examples of fibre/carbon/glass composites

- Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) is easily formed into shapes-it is best suited to large structural items, such as boat hulls, pond liners, car bodies, baths or showers
- Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is more expensive than glass fibre but is much stronger- it is used in structural parts such as propeller blades, body armour and golf clubs

Description of robotic materials

Materials that couple sensing, activation (movement), computation and communication and can react to their surroundings autonomously

Three examples of robotic materials

- Vehicles or uniforms that change colour to match their surroundings
- Prosthetics with a sense of touch
- Plane wings that change shape depending on wind conditions

What are agrotextiles?

- Improve or increase agricultural production
- May be made from nylon, polyester, polyethene polypropene or natural materials like jute and wool
- Often biodegradable and offer solar and ultraviolet protection

Examples of agrotextiles (5)

- Shading
- Thermal insulation
- Netting
- Wind-breaks
- Weed suppression

What are construction textiles?

Developed to improve construction appearance and longevity

Examples of construction textiles (structures (2) + during construction (4) )

Structures: waterproof membrane, concrete reinforcement
During construction: hoardings nets, awnings, tarpaulins, canopies

What are geotextiles?

Used in civil engineering where soil, rock or other geotechnical material needs to be stabilised, filtered drained or reinforced Retain their structure in the ground

Example of geotextiles?

Non-woven or woven mats for reinforcing banks or draining flat land

What are domestic textiles?

Used domestically, even if developed for other purposes

Examples of domestic textiles?

- Cleaning wipes
- Furnishings
- Wadding
- Linings
- Carpets
- Flooring

What are environmentally friendly textiles?

Use organically grown fibres such as hemp, wool, cotton or bamboo or recycled materials

Examples of environmentally friendly textiles? (3)

- Geotextiles
- Agrotextiles
- Fashion

What are protective textiles?

Provide protection against heat, harmful chemicals, gases pesticides and even bullets

Examples of protective textiles (4)

- Clothing: heat and radiation protection for firefighters, molten metal protection for welders
- Tents for severe weather
- Parachutes and mountain safety ropes
- Disposable chemical protection overalls

What are sports textiles? What do/can they do?

Combine function with comfort for high performance
Can be lightweight
Streamlined and breathable
Remove moisture
Sense heart rate
Control bacteria
Block UVA/UVB rays
Resist impact

Examples of sports textiles (4)

- Running shoes
- Cycling shorts
- Rugby tops
- Swimsuits

Advantage of sports textiles

- Can improve athletic performance

What is compressive strength?

the ability of material to resist squashing.

What is tensile strength?

the ability of a material to resist stretching.

What are veneers?

slices of wood that are 3 mm or less, used to build up manufactured boards or to protectively coat other woods.

What are the four basic types of movement?

Rotary
Linear
Reciprocation
Oscillation

What is oscillating motion? Give an example.

Swinging from side to side, like a pendulum in a clock.

What is rotary motion? Give an example.

Turning in a circle, such as a wheel turning

What is linear motion? Give an example.

Moving in a straight line, such as on a paper trimmer

What is reciprocating motion? Give an example.

Moving backwards and forwards in a straight line, as in cutting with a saw

What is a lever?

A fixed rigid beam requiring a fulcrum, load and effort to provide mechanical advantage

What is the effort?

Force applied to a lever

What is the fulcrum?

The pivot point of a lever

What is the load?

Amount of weight lifted