Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology key terms

The ability of a material to recover its original shape after deformation, such as compression, bending or creasing.

A polymer material supplied in a form that can be made to harden; liquid thermosetting resins are used for casting, adhesives and composites.

A barrier that prevents dye or paint reaching selected areas of fabric.

A measure of how strongly a component opposes electric current. Its symbol is $R$ and its unit is the ohm (Ω).

Colouring fabric while protecting selected areas so that they remain undyed or retain an earlier colour.

A component that opposes electric current. Its resistance is measured in ohms, $\Omega$.

A system of coloured bands that identifies a resistor’s nominal resistance and tolerance.

Purchasing materials with attention to their origins and the conditions under which they were extracted and produced.

Using a product or material again without first processing it into a new material.

A linkage that produces output movement in the opposite direction to its input movement.

A raised ridge in a textile structure; knitted rib fabric can provide extra thickness and support.

Narrow reinforcing strips or webs incorporated into a structure, often inside a thin-walled case, to support its walls and resist bending.

A paper-like material made from the rice-paper plant and associated with Eastern Asia.

Considering the hazards of an activity and deciding which precautions will reduce the risk of harm.

A mechanical fastener that is permanently deformed to hold parts together.

A material that combines sensing, movement, computation and communication so that it can respond to its surroundings autonomously.

A switch whose button rocks between positions; an on/off version remains in the selected position.

Restriction of Hazardous Substances: a directive that limits specified hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

A narrow fabric edge rolled and secured with stitching to enclose its raw edge.

A follower with a freely rotating roller at its contact point with the cam, reducing friction and wear.

Movement around an axis, such as a wheel turning.

Turning movement around a fixed centre or axis.

Timber with a relatively rough surface left by sawing, rather than a smooth, planed surface.

A sequence of programmed instructions that performs a particular task.

Removing timber with a high-speed rotating cutter to produce features such as grooves, rebates and shaped edges.

Revolutions per minute: the number of complete turns made in one minute.

An ongoing expense of operating a product or system, such as buying electricity or replacement batteries.