AQA GCSE Design and Technology key terms

The control of a machine's movements and operations using programmed numerical instructions.

A textile that allows an electric current to pass through conductive fibres or threads within it.

The ability to transfer heat or carry electric current; thermal and electrical conductivity must be distinguished.

A limit or restriction affecting a design, such as the available space, budget, time or manufacturing equipment.

The range of products and features available for consumers to select from when buying.

Repeatedly reviewing and making small improvements to a product or production process to improve performance and reduce waste.

Manufacturing that runs continuously, often 24 hours a day, to supply a product in constant demand.

The stored instructions that determine how a microcontroller responds to inputs and controls outputs.

A business jointly owned and democratically controlled by members who share common needs or goals.

Numerical values that locate a point relative to a fixed origin; on a flat surface these are commonly an $(x,y)$ pair.

The gradual deterioration of a material through chemical reactions with substances in its environment.

The ability to resist chemical deterioration caused by the surrounding environment.

Board with a corrugated, or wavy, paper layer between outer sheets, used for lightweight protective packaging.

A programmed function that keeps track of a number of events or repetitions, increasing or decreasing its stored value.

A tapered recess at the entrance to a hole that allows a suitable screw head to sit flush with the surface.

The breaking of large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller molecules, including some used to make polymers.

A line pressed into paper or board to make it easier to fold accurately without cutting it apart.

A reasoned judgement that weighs advantages, disadvantages and consequences before reaching a justified conclusion.

The unintended transfer of a substance between materials or products, which can make a product unsuitable for its intended users.

The shape seen when an object is sliced across its length. A constant cross-section stays the same along the length.

Raising money for a project through contributions from many people, usually through an online platform.

Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic: a composite of carbon fibres and plastic resin, also commonly abbreviated CFRP.

The shared customs, values, beliefs and ways of life of a group of people.

The process through which an adhesive sets or hardens to develop its intended bond strength.

Separating paper or board along a line by cutting through its thickness.

A specified location, such as a hole centre or corner, whose position can be recorded using measurements or coordinates.

A fixed point, line or edge from which measurements are taken.