Year 10 GCSE Design & Technology Assessment Questions

Question Answer
1 Why is it better for the environment Because softwood trees grow more quickly than
to use softwood rather than hardwood trees (30 years compared to 100 years),
hardwood for paper pulp? so the raw materials can be replaced more quickly.
2 What unit of measurement is used to Grams per square metre.
measure the thickness of paper?
3 Why is corrugated cardboard a The flutes between the two layers absorb shock if the
good material choice for packaging packaging is damaged, this helps protect the
a product? product inside the package.
4 Which common board is used to make Foil lined board.
the lids for take away containers?
5 What is foam core board often used Model making.
for?
6 What is the difference between a Hardwood = slow growing, deciduous (loses leaves
hardwood tree and a softwood tree? in winter), wood is harder to work with.
Softwood = relatively fast growing, coniferous
(keeps leaves in winter), wood is easier to work with.
7 Which group of woods do oak and Hardwoods.
ash belong to?
8 Which group of woods do pine and Softwoods.
larch belong to?
9 Which group of woods do mdf and Manufactured boards.
plywood belong to?
10 What is the standard size of sheets of 2440mm x 1220mm.
manufactured board?
11 What are the names of the three Ferrous, non-ferrous and alloys.
groups of metals?
12 What does the word ferrous mean? Contains iron.
13 What does the word alloy mean? A mixture of at least one pure metal and another
element.
14 Give an example of an alloy. Brass, stainless steel, or high speed steel.
15 What are the names of the two Thermoforming and thermosetting.
groups of polymers?
16 Why is melamine formaldehyde a It is a thermosetting polymer which means that it is
good choice for a kitchen heat resistant so would not be damaged by, for
worksurface. example, a hot saucepan.
17 The name of which plastic can be Polyvinyl chloride.
shortened to PVC?
18 Give two examples of natural fibres. Wool and cotton.
19 What is the fabric elastane often Swimsuits and sportswear.
used to make?
20 What is the advantage of plain It is simpler, stronger and cheaper to produce than
weave over other weaves? other weaves.
How has automation affected industry There are less manual jobs for unskilled workers due
21
today? to robots being able to perform these tasks.
Crowdfunding is an internet based way to gain
22 What is crowdfunding? investment from a large number of people giving a
small amount of money.
The people who work for the company also own a
23 Who owns a cooperative?
share in it.
Give 3 examples of non-finite energy
24 Solar, wind, tidal.
sources.
Carbon offsetting is offsetting negative processes,
25 What is carbon offsetting? such as burning fossil fuels, by investment in positive
activities such as planting trees.
When new discoveries are made which are then
26 Technology push is …
incorporate into a product.
27 What is inclusive design? This is when products are made to be used by the
 widest range of people p[possible, usually referred
to as the 5th-95th percentile
28 FMS is an abbreviation for what. Flexible Management System
JIT is when manufacturers are able to respond to
Explain what Just in Time customers needs/orders, by making the product
29
manufacturing means. when needed, rather than stockpiling goods or
components.
Ensuring a product or service only performs or lasts
30 What is planned obsolescence? for a certain amount of time before it needs
replacing or updating is planned obsolescence.
Fossil fuels are heated to create superheated water.
What does a turbine do in energy
31 The resulting steam is then used to turn a turbine
generation?
which is linked to a generator to provide power.
Nuclear power requires such a small amount of the
Why could nuclear power be
32 finite resource Uranium it is unlikely to ever run out,
considered renewable?
thus you can argue that it is renewable.
33 How does a flywheel store energy? Kinetic energy is stored when the flywheel rotates.
A PP3 battery produces 9 Volts. How
34 6
many cells does it contain?
A diamond shape in a systems
35 A decision needs to be made
diagram is used to show what?
A buzzer is a type of what in a
36 Output
system?

Draw the graphical form of a digital

37
signal.

Draw an arrow to represent

38
reciprocating movement.
What is the formula used to calculate
39 MA = Load/Effort
mechanical advantage?
Give an example of a third class
40 Tweezers
lever
What sort of movement does a pear
41 A rapid rise and fall followed by a long dwell
shaped cam produce?
Knock down fittings are temporary, standardised
Why are knockdown fittings used in
42 components which do not require specialist tools or
flat pack furniture?
skills to use them.
Iterative design is a cyclic approach to design. Each
43 Define iterative design. iteration of the design is tested and evaluated, which
leads to a new iteration.
Anthropometrics is the study of human measurements
44 What is anthropometrics?
and data, which then informs designs.
45 What did Harry Beck design? The London underground map in the 1930’s
Vivienne Westwood is best known for
46 Punk
what type of music and fashion.
James Dyson’s company is best known
47 The bag less vacuum using cyclonic technology.
for what product.
What are the 3 views used when
48 Front, end and plan.
drawing an orthographic projection?
The tolerance in DT is the amount of error that is
Define tolerance in terms of DT and
49 allowed for a given task. For example the size that a
give a specific example.
component for draw can be +/- 1mm
Why do designers make models
It is a quick, simple and cheap way to test ideas and
50 before they produce the final
identify weaknesses.
product?