Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology key terms

The stated or nominal electrical property of a component; for a resistor, its resistance measured in ohms ($\Omega$).

A material combining distinct constituents, such as reinforcing fibres embedded in a binding matrix, to obtain useful combined properties.

A material made by combining different constituent materials so that their properties work together.

The elements present in a material and their relative amounts.

An arrangement with successive gear pairs linked by gears fixed to a shared shaft, allowing the speed ratios of the stages to multiply.

Loading that squeezes a material together, tending to shorten it.

A material’s ability to resist crushing when subjected to pushing forces.

The use of computer software to produce and modify a design drawing or model.

The use of computer-controlled equipment to manufacture a product from digital instructions.

The use of computer-controlled equipment to manufacture parts from digital design information.

A test that is either true or false and determines which instructions a program follows.

An ink that forms electrically conducting paths when applied to a surface.

A thin protective insulating coating that follows the surfaces of a circuit board and its components.

A cone-bearing tree, usually with needle-like or scale-like leaves. Most conifers are evergreen.

A rigid link with pivoting joints that transfers movement and force between a crank and a slider.

A textile used in a building or structure, for example to provide reinforcement or another functional building feature.

A person who buys or uses goods or services.

An emphasis on buying and consuming goods, often involving frequent purchases and replacement of products.

A society in which buying and replacing goods is a major part of everyday life and economic activity.

An adhesive applied to both surfaces and allowed to become ready for bonding before the surfaces are pressed together, producing an immediate bond.

Skin inflammation caused by contact with a substance; textile-related cases can involve irritation or an allergic reaction.

The movement of goods in standard-sized containers that can transfer between ships, trains and lorries, reducing loading and unloading time and cost.

A situation that exists at the present time and can influence current design needs.

The ability to obtain the same material again for further production or repeat orders.

Data that can take any value within a range, such as temperature, length or time, rather than only separate whole-number values.

High-volume manufacture that runs non-stop through a 24-hour period.

Lightweight, dimensionally stable paper designed for photocopying and printing documents.