Year 10 - Design and technology
Input components
Systems approach to design: Sustainable Futures
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils will develop knowledge of electronic components and a systems approach to designing. They will learn about different components and use these to build and test circuits for different purposes. They will design a system to control a greenhouse environment, considering the different variables.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify and use different input components in control systems.
Key Notes
- A switch controls the flow of current in a circuit or system by making or breaking a circuit.
- Input components may sense a specific condition such as light, moisture or temperature
- Actuators are used to create a mechanical action in various different systems.
- Sensors are input components that convert physical properties of the environment into digital signals for processing.
- Sensors can be on-board or off-board components.
Vocabulary To Learn
- switch: controls the flow of current by making or breaking a circuit
- sensors: a component that can emit a signal depending on the environmental conditions
- flowchart: a diagram that shows the steps of a process from beginning to end
- actuator: a component that converts energy or a control signal into physical movement or action
- pseudocode: a way of writing out computer program instructions using plain English
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Systems only use one input.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
A switch controls the flow of current in a circuit or system by making or breaking a circuit. Input components may sense a specific condition such as light, moisture or temperature.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'switch'
controls the flow of current by making or breaking a circuit.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Systems only use one input. Correction: Systems often have multiple inputs. These can be switches and sensors.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 3D model using Extrude and the Timeline in Fusion Study Guide
- Assemble, test and refine systems Study Guide
- Assembly modelling in Fusion Study Guide
- Buzzers Study Guide
- Create, modify and constrain 2D sketches in Fusion Study Guide
- Data logging Study Guide
- Design for additive manufacturing with Fusion Study Guide
- Electronic calculations Study Guide
- Fusion fundamentals Study Guide
- LEDs Study Guide
- Motors Study Guide
- Physical materials and appearances in Fusion Study Guide
- Systems approach to design Study Guide
- Technical drawings in Fusion Study Guide
- Virtual and physical testing of systems Study Guide
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