Energy,Materials,Systems and devices

• Advantages of wind turbines

  • Low maintenance
  • Clean Energy
  • Relatively low-cost
  • Only work when windy
• Disadvantages of wind turbines

  • Eyesore to some
  • Hazard to birds
  • Noise
• Electricity generated in the UK in the 2nd quarter of 2016 was from a mix of different sources: Coal 6%, Nuclear 22%, Gas 45%, Renewables 25%
• What percentage of energy was generated by fossil fuel?
• What fraction of the electricity generated was from renewables?
• Why is it desirable for a nation to provide electricity from a variety of different sources?
• Nuclear power remains a controversial form of power generation
• Arguments for increasing the use of nuclear power

  • Few CO₂ emissions
  • Uranium is abundant
  • Large amounts of power
  • Easily controllable
• Arguments against increasing the use of nuclear power

  • Takes a lot of energy, resources, and money
  • Costs a lot to decommission and build
  • Risk of nuclear weapons
  • Difficult storage
  • Quick in response time risk of radiation leaks
  • Meltdowns can affect wildlife and humans
  • Uranium mining damages the environment
  • Public mistrust in nuclear power
• The rechargeable batteries in mobile phones can contain various chemicals and metals
• Forms of energy a smartphone can emit during daily use

  1. Sound waves from speaker and earpiece

  2. Light from screen

  3. Heat from processor or circuit

  4. Movement from rotating motor when vibrating
• Pneumatic systems move compressed air or gas to create movement
• Batteries store chemical/electrical energy
• Fluid or oil pumped around a system under pressure is known as what?
• Alkaline cells usually last longer than traditional lead-acid varieties because manganese-oxide requires less demand
• Draw the circuit symbol for a cell and a battery
• What energy is stored in a candle and what is it converted to when it is burned?
• Justify the best times to pump water back up to an upper reservoir at a kinetic pumped hydroelectric power station
• Modern materials for product development

  • Fill in potential
• Modern materials


  • Polymers
  • Flexible MDF
  • Fibreglass
  • LCD screens
• Combined materials

  • Polymers
• Proposed use of polymers in the NHS

  Disposable cutlery for patients, syringes, disposable gloves, protective packaging for medical supplies and drugs, bags and piping for drips, furniture, reception area desks, curved walls, and other features
• Proposed use of flexible MDF in the NHS

  Furniture, reception area desks, curved walls, and other features
• Proposed use of fibreglass in the NHS

  Hip replacements, dental and other orthopaedic implants, tools and equipment, endoscopes, data transfer of patient records
• Proposed use of LCD screens in the NHS

  Digital thermometers, blood sugar and blood pressure monitors, information displays, computer systems
• Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CRP) is used in sports equipment, motorsport vehicles, and safety equipment such as helmets because it is strong, can be layered up, and lightweight
• A release agent is applied to a mould or former before shaping GRP products to ensure the final molding component comes off the mold easily without damage to either part
• Cure in reinforced plastics

  Sets or hardens due to the catalyst causing a chemical reaction with the resin
• Health and safety precautions when using resins with high levels of volatile organic compounds include working in a well-ventilated area, taking regular breaks, and ceasing work if ill effects are noticed
• GRP and CRP are not often used for mass-produced or one-off products due to the labour and time-intensive process, as well as limitations in the rate and speed of production
• Composite materials like carbon fibre can benefit police riot gear by providing lightweight and strong protection
• Composite materials

  • Kevlar
  • Gore-tex
  • Alamid
  • Carbon fibre
• Uses of composite materials

  • Bulletproof vest material, fireproof, thermal insulation, flameproof, waterproof, lightweight, tough
• Gore-tex can keep feet dry during long periods in harsh weather conditions
• Designing a toy robot would require subsystems like recording, movement sensors to trigger interactions, and voice recognition
• Subsystems needed to be developed for designing a toy robot

  • Recording
  • Movement sensors to trigger interactions
  • Voice recognition to affect specific responses
  • Mechanical movement of limbs and head via motors
  • Lighting systems
  • Memory
  • Programmed and stored in
  • Possible remote control via interface, Bluetooth or Wifi
• How a press switch activated, motorised door works

  Switch is pressed -> Motor opens door -> Delay to hold door open -> Motor reverses to close door
• Input and output components

  • Speaker
  • Momentary connection
  • LED
  • Push to make switch
  • Toggle switch
  • Thermistor
  • Light dependent resistor
• Microphone gives an analogue signal
• Toggle switch gives a digital signal