General Knowledge

Question 1

What is Market Pull?

Answer 1

A product developed in response to a demand in the market or user.

Question 2

What is technology push?

Answer 2

Products developed as a result of new technology. (ipads, computers)

Question 3

What is the product life cycle?

Answer 3

Introduction
Growth
Maturity
Decline

Question 4

What is a Fad product?

Answer 4

A product that is highly popular for only a limited amount of time.

Question 5

What are CNC embroidery machines?

Answer 5

Machines that embroid designs on fabrics.

Question 6

What are vinyl cutters?

Answer 6

A pattern on CAD can be cut from a roll of self-adhesive vinyl.

Question 7

What are CNC routers?

Answer 7

Rotating router cutter.

Question 8

What are 3D printer?

Answer 8

Uses thermoforming polymer roll of filament which is heated then extruded.

Question 9

What is CAD and its advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 9

Works better in colour and collaboration.
High initial set-up costs, train employees and can lose work through computer failure.

Question 10

What is CAM and its advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 10

Directly from drawings.
Initial set-up cost is high, loss of employment, maintenance cost.
More efficient in long term and can run for long periods of time.

Question 11

What is a linear economy?

Answer 11

Raw materials are used to make a product and waste is thrown away.

Question 12

What is a circular economy?

Answer 12

A system that aims to minimise waste and extract maximum use from resources.

Question 13

What is cradle-to-cradle production?

Answer 13

Considering the product’s complete life cycle.

Question 14

What is cradle-to-grave production?

Answer 14

Considering the product’s complete life cycle until it is disposed of.

Question 15

What are the six Rs of sustainability?

Answer 15

Rethink
Recycle
Repair
Refuse
Reduce
Reuse

Question 16

What is carbon footprint?

Answer 16

The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of human activity.

Question 17

What is an ecological deficit?

Answer 17

A measure to show that more natural resources are being used than nature can replace.

Question 18

Types of non-reneqables?

Answer 18

Coal, Oil, Gas, Nuclear

Question 19

Types of renewable?

Answer 19

Wind, Solar, Geothermal, Hydroelectric, Boimaass, wave

Question 20

What are EL wires? (Electroluminescent)

Answer 20

Materials that provide light when exposed to a current.

Question 21

What is QTC (quantum Tunnelling composite)

Answer 21

Materials that can change from conductors to insulators when under pressure.

Question 22

What are shape memory alloys?

Answer 22

Return to their original shape when heated.

Question 23

What is photochromic pigmnet?

Answer 23

Pigments or dyes change in colour in response to changes in light.
E.g sunglasses

Question 24

What is Polymorph?

Answer 24

Thermoforming polymer in granular form.
Useful for model making and prototyping.

Question 25

What is thermochromic pigment?

Answer 25

Pigments that change colour in response to a change in heat. E.g Mugs that change colour.

Question 26

What is Micro-Encapsulation?

Answer 26

Process of applying microscopic capsules to fibres...

Question 27

What is Biomimicry?

Answer 27

Taking ideas from and mimicking nature.

Question 28

Why is carbon fibre good?

Answer 28

High tensile strength, lightweight, rigid.

Question 29

Why is Kevlar good?

Answer 29

Lightweight, flexible, durable, heat resistant, high tensile strenth-to-weight ratio.

Question 30

Why is Glass Reinforced Plastic good?

Answer 30

Glass fibres & polyester resin mixed. Rigid, lightweight, but difficult to recycle.

Question 31

What are interactive textiles?

Answer 31

Fabrics that contain devices or circuits that respond and interact with user.

Question 32

What are microfibres?

Answer 32

Fibres about 100 times thinner than human hair.

Question 33

What are phase-changing materials?

Answer 33

Fibres that change between liquid and solid within a temp range.

Question 34

What is aramid fibre?

Answer 34

Non-flammable heat resistant fibre. (stronger than nylon)

Question 35

What are geotextiles?

Answer 35

Textiles associate with soil, construction & drainage.

Question 36

What is a microcontroller?

Answer 36

Miniaturised computer, programmed to perform a **specific** task. Can be **reprogramed**.

Question 37

What are the uses of microcontrollers?

Answer 37

Found in toasters, TVs, microwave ovans. Popular type: **Programmable interface controller (PIC)**

Question 38

Difference between digital and analogue sensor?

Answer 38

Digital = yes/no Analogue = measures quantity.

Question 39

What do NTC and PTC LDRs do?

Answer 39

NTC = Heat increases, resistance decreases. PTC = Heat increases, resistance increases.

Question 40

What are the symbols in a flow chart?

Answer 40

Circular rectangle = start/end Parallelogram = Input/output Rectangle = process Diamond = decision

Question 41

Types of motion?

Answer 41

Rotary = Circular (wheels) Linear = Straight (Conveyor belts) Oscilating = back & forth (electric toothbrush) Reciprocating = back & forth in straight line (needle on sewing machine).

Question 42

Equation to work out rotational speed?

Answer 42

Number of revolutions / time taken

Question 43

Equation to work out oscillating and reciprocating motion?

Answer 43

oscillation speed = number of oscillations / time taken

Question 44

What is a mechanism?

Answer 44

Series of parts that work together to control forces & motion.

Question 45

What is a lever?

Answer 45

A bar that pivits on fulcrum.

Question 46

What is a fulcrum?

Answer 46

The pivot point on lever.

Question 47

What is effort?

Answer 47

Input force on lever.

Question 48

What is load?

Answer 48

Output force from lever.

Question 49

What will a gear with twice as many teeth do?

Answer 49

Rotate half the speed.

Question 50

Who rotates faster the small or larger one?

Answer 50

The small gear rotates faster. Number of teeth is inversely proportional to speed.

Question 51

What does a rack & pinion do?

Answer 51

Converts rotary motion into linear motion.

Question 52

Thickness of board is measured in?

Answer 52

Micron

Question 52

What is vergin fibre paper compared to recycled paper?

Answer 52

Virgin = from new wood pulp. Recycled = Wood pulp used re-pulped paper.

Question 53

What happens each time the paper is recycled?

Answer 53

The fibres get shorter and weaker.

Question 54

Why is laminating good?

Answer 54

Increases strengthm waterproof, increases lifespan.

Question 55

Why are hardwoods harder than soft?

Answer 55

Closed grain structure more expensive also.

Question 56

Difference between manufactured boards and laminated boards?

Answer 56

Manufactured = Man-made. Laminating = Made by layering sheets together.

Question 57

What is difference between compressed boards and veneers?

Answer 57

Compressed = Gluing wood particles together. Veneer = Thin sheets of timber used to cover boards.

Question 58

Types of finishes?

Answer 58

Paint, varnish, danish oil.

Question 59

Example of alloys?

Answer 59

Stainless steel.

Question 60

What is thermoforming and thermosetting?

Answer 60

Forming = Heated and re-shaped over & over again. Setting = Only softened by heating once.

Question 61

Difference between synthetic polymers and polymerisation?

Answer 61

S = man-made P = Chemical reaction.

Question 62

What are blended fibres and example?

Answer 62

2 or more different fibres spun together to make a single yarn. Polyester cotton.

Question 63

What is woven fabric?

Answer 63

Textile made by weaving. Different weaves create different strenths and patterns.

Question 64

What are knitted fabrics?

Answer 64

Loops in the yarns that interlock. Warmer as it traps the body heat.