Design and Technology key terms

A fabric engineered primarily to provide a particular functional performance, such as electrical conductivity or protection from heat.

The development of a product driven by an advance in technology, materials or processes, rather than by an existing customer demand.

A reusable shape or guide used to repeat an outline or feature when marking or cutting material.

A material’s resistance to breaking when subjected to a pulling force.

A pulling action transmitted through a material when forces pull its ends away from each other.

A repeating arrangement of shapes that fit together without gaps or overlaps.

A planned check of a design or model to collect evidence about how it performs.

The controlled application of colour to selected areas of a textile to create a design or pattern.

How readily a material transfers heat through itself.

A resistor whose resistance changes with temperature. In an NTC thermistor, resistance decreases as temperature increases.

A colouring substance that changes colour in response to a change in temperature.

A polymer that softens when heated and hardens when cooled, allowing it to be reheated and reshaped. Also called a thermoplastic.

A polymer that softens when heated and hardens again when cooled, allowing it to be reshaped.

A polymer that sets permanently during curing and cannot subsequently be melted and reshaped.

A method of showing an object in aligned, separate 2D views, with the plan above the front view and the right-side view to its right.

A method of mounting electronic components by passing their leads through holes in a circuit board and soldering them to its copper connections.

A barrier across an estuary that controls tidal water flow through turbines to generate electricity.

Wood used as a material for making products or structures.

The cutting of a tree trunk or log into usable timber sections, such as planks and boards.

A programmed function that measures a time interval or introduces a delay before an action.

Coating a metal surface with a thin layer of solder before making a joint.

A strong, corrosion-resistant metal with a high strength-to-weight ratio, used in applications such as aircraft components and medical implants.

A trial version of a garment, usually made from inexpensive fabric, used to check fit, shape and construction before using the final fabric.

The permitted variation from a specified dimension. A close tolerance allows only a small variation.

The turning effect of a force on a shaft or rotating component.

A twisting action produced when turning forces act in opposite directions on a material or object.

The ability to absorb energy and deform without fracturing.