Year 8 - Design and technology
Polymers properties, sources and stock forms
Ergonomic design: accessible controllers
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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 gather and analyse ergonomic and anthropometric data to inform the design of a game controller. Pupils will be introduced to polymer properties and processes. They will develop and apply foam and complex card modelling techniques to manufacture their product.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify polymer categories, sources and stock forms.
Key Notes
- Polymers are long chains of monomers, classified as natural or synthetic and grouped as thermoforming or thermosetting.
- Most polymers are made from petrochemicals, which are synthetic.
- Polymers are lightweight, durable, flexible, water-resistant, and good insulators.
- Polymers are supplied as granules, sheets, rods, or pipes and have many uses.
Vocabulary To Learn
- polymer: a material made of long chains of repeating units called monomers
- properties: characteristics that determine how materials behave
- stock form: the basic shape or size a material is supplied in
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Polymers can all be recycled and are therefore environmentally ok.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Polymers are long chains of monomers, classified as natural or synthetic and grouped as thermoforming or thermosetting. Most polymers are made from petrochemicals, which are synthetic.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'polymer'
a material made of long chains of repeating units called monomers.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Polymers can all be recycled and are therefore environmentally ok. Correction: Polymers are usually made from non renewable resources and even if recycled, are not sustainable.
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