Materials — IGCSE Design & Technology (0445) questions by topic

Fig. 1.1 shows timber being seasoned naturally in the open air. The diagram shows stacked timber boards separated by battens, supported on brick piers, with a roof to protect from…

Fig. 2.1 shows two products, lengths of tube and a washing-up bowl, made from plastic. (a) Name a specific process that could be used to manufacture the tubes.

Fig. 4.1 shows two tools, A and B, being used on the end of a round metal rod. Tool A is a pointed marking tool held at an angle to the rod end; tool B is a guide placed over the…

Fig. 6.1 shows a handle made from polymorph. Polymorph is a thermoplastic supplied as granules. The figure shows a hand holding a small pile of polymorph granules, and a separate…

Fig. 1.1 shows three tools, A, B and C, that can be used to cut sheet metal. Tool A is a hand tool with two cutting blades used like scissors. Tool B is a chisel-type tool being…

Fig. 2.1 shows parts of two wooden boards that will be joined using a tongue and groove joint. Two rectangular board ends are drawn ready for the joint to be added. Complete Fig.…

Fig. 1.1 shows timber being seasoned naturally in the open air. The arrangement has a roof to protect from sun and rain, with timber boards stacked horizontally separated by…

Fig. 2.1 shows two products, lengths of tube and a washing-up bowl, made from plastic. Name a specific process that could be used to manufacture the tubes.

Fig. 5.1 shows a basic design for a letter rack made from 4 mm thick acrylic. Draw a former that could be used when bending the acrylic to the shape of the letter rack.

Fig. 6.1 shows a handle made from polymorph. Polymorph is a thermoplastic supplied as granules. The figure shows a hand holding loose polymorph granules and, separately, a hand…

Complete Fig. 7.1 to show a tee halving joint. Fig. 7.1 shows two pieces of timber meeting in a T arrangement, ready for the halving joint to be drawn in.

Fig. 8.1 shows a box with a hinged lid, made from 12 mm thick hardwood and measuring 300 across, with an internal divider. The lid opens at the back edge marked A. Sketch and name…

Fig. 9.1 shows details of a jig used when bending a brass strip to shape. A brass strip is located against a single steel peg (diameter 6 mm) set into an 18 mm thick base. The…

Fig. 12.1 shows a child's xylophone that could be made in a school workshop. The stand is made by laminating beech veneers. Describe what is meant by the term 'veneer'.

A3 Flags will be made with the logo printed onto them. The flags will be made from thin card and attached to Ø10 mm dowel using a slot method as shown. (a) State one suitable type…

Flags will be made with the logo printed onto them. The flags will be made from thin card and attached to a 10 mm diameter dowel using a slot method as shown. State one suitable…

Fig. 4.1 shows two parts, A and B, of an incomplete housing joint. Draw on part B in Fig. 4.1 to show the other part of the housing joint.

Fig. 5.1 shows an electrical plug with a length of electrical cable covered with plastic. (a) Name a specific thermoplastic that could be used to cover the electrical cable.

Fig. 6.1 shows a length of brass (5 mm thick, 12 wide) that is to be heated to a dull red colour. Complete the following sentences. (a) The process of heating the brass to a dull…

Fig. 7.1 shows a paint pot holder made of wood, with two Ø50 holes; the body is made from manufactured board (14 thick) and softwood (24). Use sketches and notes to show how the…

Table 8.1 gives detailed stages of a process that could be carried out on steel: Stage Process --- --- 1 Heat up steel to dull red 2 Dip steel into carbon powder 3 Repeat stages 1…

Fig. 1.1 shows parts A and B of an incomplete drawing of a twin mortise and tenon joint. Draw on part B in Fig. 1.1 to show the twin tenons.

CFRP and GRP are examples of composite materials. Complete the names of the composite materials. (a) C........ Fibre Reinforced Plastic

Fig. 6.1 shows what happens to shape memory alloy (SMA) when it is heated. Stage 1 shows the original shape at low temperature; this is bent to a deformed shape at low temperature…

Fig. 7.1 shows a copper dish being beaten into shape. When the copper is beaten it becomes 'work hardened'. (a) Complete the sentence by adding the correct term from the list:…

(a) Name a suitable softwood for the toolbox.

(a) The rectangular mild steel tube used for parts of the desk is a standard metal form. Fig. 12.2 shows two other standard metal forms, A and B. Complete the names of the…

Fig. 3.1 shows details of a length of 8 mm thick hardwood that has been bent to shape. Use sketches and notes to show how formers could have been used to produce the final curved…

Explain the term 'alloy'.

Thermochromic materials change colour at specific temperatures. Describe how the use of thermochromic pigment can improve the function of a product.

Fig. 10.1 shows a piercing saw that will be used to cut out a curved shape in a piece of 1 mm thick brass sheet. Use sketches and notes to show how the brass sheet would be held…

(a) Mild steel is a ferrous metal. State what is meant by the term 'ferrous metal'.

Name one specific material that is used as an electrical insulator.

Name one specific material that is used as an electrical insulator.

Fig. 3.1 shows a block of softwood 20 mm thick. Draw a groove on the softwood block shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 5.1 shows a sign holder made from 1.5 mm thick mild steel sheet (80 high, 120 long, 15 and 20 dimensions). Use sketches and notes to show how a batch of ten identical sign…

Fig. 7.1 shows a dish that has been shaped from thin copper sheet and a process that is carried out during its manufacture (a hammer working over a stake/anvil). (a) Name the…

Shape memory alloy (SMA) is a smart material. The most common shape memory alloy (SMA) is Nitinol. Complete the names of the two metals that are combined to make Nitinol.…

(a) Circle, from the list below, two hardwoods that could be used to make the photo frame: cedar / parana pine / beech / whitewood / oak.

Fig. 2.1 shows pipes used for plumbing being joined together (a metal pipe and a blowtorch shown). (a) Name the metal used for the pipes.

Fig. 3.1 shows a through mortise and tenon joint. Add sketches and notes to Fig. 3.1 to show how the joint could be prevented from being pulled apart in the direction of the arrow…

Fig. 4.1 shows three products made of different materials: a mild steel wheelbarrow body, a silver pendant and a brass tap. State a suitable different finish for each product.

Fig. 5.1 shows 4 mm thick acrylic sheet that has been shaped (40 and 130 dimensions, with a curved bend). Use sketches and notes to show how the curved shape could be produced.

Fig. 6.1 shows details of a steam chest that would be used to steam bend wood (vent, end sealed, steam feed pipe, steam generator, drain hole/pipe and bucket shown). List three…

Fig. 7.1 shows part of a length of mild steel square tube (20 x 20) and an engineer's vice. A hacksaw will be used to cut the tube to make a 90 degree bend; an area is to be cut…

Fig. 8.1 shows a body shell for a car made from glass reinforced plastic (GRP). Explain what is meant by the term 'glass reinforced plastic' (GRP).

(a) Give two benefits of using hardwood for the tablet stand.

(a) Fig. 12.2 shows a card template of the coat hook shape (300 x 200) glued onto mild steel sheet. The waste between the legs, labelled A, will be removed by drilling a hole…

(a)(i) Name a suitable hardwood for the sides of the case.

Fig. 3.1 shows a block of softwood 20 mm thick. Draw a groove on the softwood block shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 5.1 shows a sign holder made from 1.5 mm thick mild steel sheet (80 high, 120 long, 15 and 20 dimensions). Use sketches and notes to show how a batch of ten identical sign…

Fig. 7.1 shows a dish that has been shaped from thin copper sheet and a process that is carried out during its manufacture (a hammer working over a stake/anvil). (a) Name the…

Shape memory alloy (SMA) is a smart material. The most common shape memory alloy (SMA) is Nitinol. Complete the names of the two metals that are combined to make Nitinol.…

(a) Circle, from the list below, two hardwoods that could be used to make the photo frame: cedar / parana pine / beech / whitewood / oak.

Composite materials can be used in the construction of beams. (a) Give one example of a composite material.

Composite materials can be used in the construction of beams. (a) Give one example of a composite material.

Composite materials can be used in the construction of beams. (a) Give one example of a composite material.

A3 (a) The cycle lane sign will be made from a rigid thin plastic sheet. (i) State one suitable rigid thin plastic sheet that could be used to make the cycle lane sign.

A3 (a) The cycle lane sign will be made from a rigid thin plastic sheet. (i) State one suitable rigid thin plastic sheet that could be used to make the cycle lane sign.

Fig. 2.1 shows views of a butt joint using softwood 60 mm wide x 15 mm thick. Add sketches and notes to Fig. 2.1 to show how the butt joint could be strengthened.

Fig. 3.1 shows two tools, A and B, that can be used to cut sheet metal. Give the name of the tools labelled A and B in Fig. 3.1.

Select the plastic from the list below that corresponds to the description. List: expanded polystyrene, PVC, nylon, polyester resin, phenol formaldehyde. (a) Good chemical and…

Fig. 7.1 shows a hardwood rail, 40 x 25, with a recess cut out, ready to take a butt hinge. Add sketches to Fig. 7.2 to show a complete butt hinge fitted into the recess.

Fig. 9.1 shows items of equipment (an oxygen cylinder and an acetylene cylinder) used in a process to join metals together permanently. Name a process in which the items of…

(a) Acrylic is a thermoplastic. State one advantage of making the stand from a thermoplastic rather than a thermosetting plastic.

Fig. 2.1 shows a shaped piece of hardwood. State from the list below the correct name for the types of grain labelled at A and B in Fig. 2.1. List: cross, short, patterned,…

Circle from the list below one metal that is a pure metal. List: mild steel, brass, stainless steel, aluminium.

Fig. 6.1 shows the back of a shelf unit and details of two keyhole plates (brass 25 x 25 x 1 mm thick) used to fit the shelf unit to a wall. Fig. 6.2 shows a piece of 1 mm thick…

Fig. 7.1 shows a table number stand used in a cafe and a development (net) of the stand. (a) Name a suitable non-ferrous metal for the number stand.

Fig. 8.1 shows a through housing joint marked out on a length of hardwood (housing 30 wide x 20 deep, board 80 long, with waste). Complete Table 8.1 by describing the process each…

Circle from the list below one material that is biodegradable. List: polystyrene, hardboard, tin, nylon, copper.

Fig. 2.1 shows two parts, A and B, of an incomplete tee bridle joint. Draw on part B in Fig. 2.1 to show the other part of the tee bridle joint.

Fig. 3.1 shows a piece of sheet metal that will be folded to shape using a rawhide mallet, held in an engineer's vice with item A. (a) Name the item of equipment labelled A in…

Fig. 4.1 shows a watering can made of plastic, with ribs. (a) Name a suitable plastic for the watering can.

Fig. 7.1 shows views of a coat rack with adjustable sliders, both made of plastic by different methods (coat rack 500 mm long, slider end view 60). (a) State a suitable method of…

Fig. 10.1 shows a battery with a test strip that allows the user to check the condition of the battery. When a finger is pressed against each end of the test strip, a current from…

(a) Circle from the list below two hardwoods that could be used to make the stand. List: cedar, oak, chipboard, balsa, teak.

(a) The frame is made from 50 x 20 mild steel rectangular tube (Fig. 12.2). Fig. 12.3 shows two other standard metal forms, A and B. State the correct term for each standard form…

Fig. 3.1 shows details of an MDF tabletop (18 thick) that will be fastened to the hardwood rails (40 x 15) of a small table. Draw on Fig. 3.1 to show how the tabletop could be…

Table 4.1 shows three products each made of a different plastic. Complete Table 4.1 by naming a suitable specific plastic that could be used for each product (a crate; an…

Fig. 6.1 shows the centre for a drilled hole marked out on 6 mm thick metal, using tool A. (a) State the name of tool A.

Fig. 7.1 shows two pieces of 5 mm thick acrylic that will be joined together. (a) Name a suitable adhesive that could be used to join the acrylic.

Fig. 8.1 shows two pieces of brass that will be soldered on a brazing hearth using a blow torch (firebricks, silver solder, gas and air control). (a) Explain the purpose of the…

Complete the sentence below by selecting the correct term from the list (case harden, change shape, become softer, change colour). When exposed to a change in temperature,…

(a) The sides of the box will be joined at each corner by means of finger (comb) joints. Complete Fig. 11.2 to show an assembled finger (comb) joint (board 60 x 15).

(a) Mild steel is a ferrous metal. (a)(i) State what is meant by the term 'ferrous metal'.

Fig. 5.1 shows a gate fixed to a wall; the frame of the gate has started to collapse (sides 80 mm wide x 30 mm thick, corner A). (a) Name a suitable joint that could be used to…

Fig. 3.1 shows details of an MDF tabletop (18 thick) that will be fastened to the hardwood rails (40 x 15) of a small table. Draw on Fig. 3.1 to show how the tabletop could be…

Table 4.1 shows three products each made of a different plastic. Complete Table 4.1 by naming a suitable specific plastic that could be used for each product (a crate; an…

Fig. 6.1 shows the centre for a drilled hole marked out on 6 mm thick metal, using tool A. (a) State the name of tool A.

Fig. 7.1 shows two pieces of 5 mm thick acrylic that will be joined together. (a) Name a suitable adhesive that could be used to join the acrylic.

Fig. 8.1 shows two pieces of brass that will be soldered on a brazing hearth using a blow torch (firebricks, silver solder, gas and air control). (a) Explain the purpose of the…

Complete the sentence below by selecting the correct term from the list (case harden, change shape, become softer, change colour). When exposed to a change in temperature,…

(a) The sides of the box will be joined at each corner by means of finger (comb) joints. Complete Fig. 11.2 to show an assembled finger (comb) joint (board 60 x 15).

(a) Mild steel is a ferrous metal. (a)(i) State what is meant by the term 'ferrous metal'.