DESIGN AND

TECHNOLOGY
Plastics and Electronics
Year 8

Compiled by Matthew Sultana – 2021 – 2022

1
LI: Be able to discuss the steps necessary to design a good product. (Design)
(1.2.4, 6.4.1)

Problem

Evaluation Research

Final desgin Ideas

Testing Chosen idea

Manufacturing
2
LI: Be able to explore the design context. (Explore)
(1.1.1, 1.1.3)

Design
Design Situation Specifications
You are a designer working with an
established electronics toy company.

Q1) What do we need to produce?

From the research carried out, it was decided
that the company needs to target young Q2) What is the aim of this product?
children, with a new electronic game.

Q3) Is the user a Boy or Girl?

Your manager informs you that you are responsible
for this project.
Q4) What is the maximum size?

Q5) Other important points

Design Brief
Design and make a low cost, steady hand game for
young children, with a light and sound output. This
game needs to work with one 9V battery. The size of
the base is limited to the material given to you.

3
LI: Be able to name and identify uses of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers.
(Technology)
LI: Be able to describe characteristics of polymers
Thermosettings
Thermoplastics
(4.1.1, 4.1.3, 6.4.1)

Thermosetting materials such as resins and melamine can be moulded

Thermoplastic materials such acrylic or ABS soften or become fused
when heated. In this condition they can be formed into shape using a
variety of methods. The shape remains permanent when the material
has cooled down. The same thermoplastic material can be heated,
softened, shaped and cooled many times. This explains how it is possible
to recycle some plastics.
into shape only once. The chemical process that takes place during the
moulding or curing is irreversible. Generally speaking, thermosetting
plastics can withstand higher temperatures than thermoplastics. If they
are heated excessively, the material simply breaks down

List 2 examples of Thermoplastic Polymers and their application. List 2 examples of Thermosetting Polymers and their application.

Thermoplastic Thermosetting
Application Application
Polymer Polymer

Characteristics of Polymers

Polymers or plastics can be

very resistant to chemicals.

Generally, polymers or
plastics are very light in
weight with varying
degrees of strength.

Polymers or plastics can be

both thermal and electrical
insulators.

4
LI: Be able to describe fabrication processes used in the school workshop. (Technology)
(4.1.2, 4.2.1, 4.3.6, 6.4.1)

Strip heater
Bending along a straight line can be achieved using a simple machine called a strip heater. The machine has a long
thin heater element, which warms the plastic along the line of the required bend. Once the plastic has become
flexible, due to localised heating, it is bent to the required angle and held firmly whilst it cools and solidifies.

Pictures of items made using the line

bending machine

Picture of vacuum forming machine
Vacuum Former
In vacuum forming a sheet of thermoplastic
material is clamped over a vacuum chamber
containing a pattern. Heat is applied by an
electric heating element until the sheet
becomes soft and pliable. The platen is lifted,
which pushes the pattern into the plastic sheet.
The air is then pumped out of the vacuum Pictures of items made using the
chamber. Atmospheric pressure will push the vacuum forming machine
plastic sheet tightly around the pattern.

5
LI: Describe the function of a resistor and determine the value. (Technology)
(5.1.2, 5.2.1-2, 5.4.5)

Resistor Reading the value of resistors

The 3 colou r bands on the left side are group ed together to indicate the
Current is the speed at which
resistors resistance valu e and the 4th colou r band on th e right side indicat es the
electricity flows in a circuit. All
tolerance of the resistor. The table on the left shows the value associated to
components and wires resist the flow
each colour.
of electricity or electric current,
although some resist it more than The 1st colour band on the resistor indicates the 1st value or 1st digit of the

others. We can control the amount of resistor’s resistance.

current flowing in a circuit by using a

The 2nd colour band indicates 2nd value or 2nd digit of the resistor’s resistance.
resistor, which can be either fixed or
variable. The amount of resistance a
The 3rd colour band is the multiplier which indicat es the numb er of zeros of the
component has is measured in ohms
resistor’s resistance.
(symbol ). Big resistances can be
measured in kilohms (1K = 1000 ) The 4th colour b and indi cates the resistor’s tolerance, usually gold or silver (5%
/ 10%).

In the t able below shows how th e resistance o f a resistor with a b rown, black
and red band was determined to be 1000

6
 LI: Describe the function of an LED. LI: Describe the function of a buzzer.
(Technology) (Technology)

LED Buzzer
(5.2.1-2) (5.2.1-2)

Light-emitting diodes are used as Every day we hear sounds

indicator lamps in electronic devices. that are produced
LEDs are very efficient since they do not electronically. Sound
waste energy in form of heat. If used output devices include
correctly an LED will last almost bells, sirens, speakers and
indefinitely. LEDs come in a variety of buzzers amongst others.
colors: red, green, yellow and even blue, Buzzers are commonly
Picture of LEDs
but an LED can only emit one color. used in electronics for
Picture of buzzers
Current flows through the LED from their low consumption
anode to cathode. If connected the other and small size.
way LEDs will simply not work. LEDs are
very strong and can resist to strong
impacts.

Strip Board
LI: Describe the function of prototyping boards.
(Technology)

Bread Board
(5.4.1-2, 5.4.12)

Stripboard or Veroboard, is a type of electronics

A breadboard is a reusable, solder less
device used to build and test a prototype
circuit. A breadboard consists of a
perforated block of plastic with
numerous spring clips under the
perforations. Wires and the leads of
Picture of
components such as LEDs and resistors
breadboard
can be inserted into the holes to
complete the circuit. One of the main
advantages of using a breadboard is that
the components are not soldered and if
they are positioned incorrectly they can
be moved easily to a new position on the
board.
prototyping board with a regular grid of holes, with
wide copper strips running one way all the way along
one side of the board. The hole spacing allows ICs
Picture of
and other components to be directly mounted
strip board
without any gap between them and the board. The
components are placed on the plain side of the
board, with their leads going through the holes. The
leads are then soldered to the copper tracks on the
other side of the board, and any excess wire is cut
off. The continuous tracks may be easily and neatly
cut as desired to form breaks between conductors
using a 5 mm twist drill made for the purpose.
7
LI: Establish the behaviour of a system. (Technology)

Parallel
(5.1.3) LEDs in Parallel
LEDs in Series

Series
How will the LEDs
How will the LEDs behave
behave if one of them is
if one of them is a blinking a blinking LED?
LED?

Parallel circuits are circuits that are

wired in such a way that current flows
Series circuits are circuits that are through more than one path. The
wired in such a way that current components below are all wired in
flows through only one path. The parallel.
components below are all wired in
series.

Switches in Parallel
Switches in Series How many switches need to be
How many switches need to on to turn on the led?
be on to turn on the led?

Q3. Describe what happens when switch S1 is

Q1. Describe what happens when switch S1
switched on and S2 is off.
is switched on and S2 is off.
Ans:
Ans:

Q4. Describe what happens when switch S2 is

switched on and S1 is off.
Ans:

Q2. Describe what happens when switch S1 and

S2 are switched on.
Ans:

8
LI: Be able to identify workshop safe practices. (Make)
(4.4.3, 4.4.4,)

•Ask If Unsure
SAFETY •Tidy Tools And Materials Away After Use.

•Wear Apron, Goggles, Strong Shoes •Report Any Breakages At Once.

•Long Hair Needs To Be Tied Up •Clamp Your Work Piece Firmly When Drilling.

•Ties And Other Loose Clothing Must Be Removed •Any Injuries Must Be Reported To The Teacher Immediately.

•Do Not Fool About In The Technology Lab •Place soldering iron in its stand when not in use.

•Do Not Rush About - Walk. •Always wash hands after soldering.
•Do Not Interfere With Other People's Work. •Work in a well ventilated area when soldering.

Circle 3 bad practices you can see

in this image.

9
LI: Translate schematic diagrams to pictorial circuits.
(Design)

Circuit Design
(5.4.1, 5.4.8)

10
LI: Be able to Identify tools and describe how they are used safely. (Make)
(4.3.3-4, 4.4.3-4, 5.4.1-2, 5.5.1-2)
(5.4.1, 5.4.8)
Name:
Use:
Hazard:
Name: How to reduce risk:
Use:
Hazard:

Name:
Use:

Hazard:

Name:
How to reduce risk:
Use:

Hazard:

How to reduce risk: Name:

Use

Name
Use:

Name:
Use:

Hazard:

Name:
Use: How to reduce risk:

11
LI: Be able to collect and analyse data of existing products. (Explore)
(2.2.1, 6.1.2)
Research pictures of existing steady hand game aimed for young children, Use annotations to highlight what struck you in the image.
(A few images were given to help you out in the research)

12
LI: Be able to construct an artifact from a given design. (Make)
(4.1.2, 4.3.1)
Follow the given step by step instructions to produce the steady hand game. Parts List
The picture on the right shows an exploded view and an assembled view of the steady game you need to construct. Follow the steps below to build the game safely and
accurately.

A. Solder components to the strip board following your design.

B. Cut the polystyrene foam following your cardboard template
C. Vacuum form the polystyrene template
D. Mark holes for the different components.
E. Assemble parts

13
LI: Be able to generate a variety of design ideas. (Design)
(1.2.1)
Design web – Write words related to each of the given title in the respective bubble.

Cartoon Space

Design
Web

14
LI: Be able to collect and analyse data to be used for possible solutions. (Design)
(2.2.1, 6.1.2, 6.4.1)
Research pictures related to a suitable title you listed on pg13. Use annotations to highlight what struck you in the image.

Tiltle one:

15
LI: Be able to collect and analyse data to be used for possible solutions. (Design)
(2.2.1, 6.1.2, 6.4.1)
Research pictures related to a suitable title you listed on pg13. Use annotations to highlight what struck you in the image.

Tiltle Two:

16
 Sketches
LI: Be able to use data to generate design solutions. (Design)
(1.2.2, 6.1.2, 6.2.2)
Sketch a minimum of 4 original ideas for the base of the game, using the research made. Include
annotations and colour. Insert images of the sketches in the space below.
Lable the buzzer, switch, wire, battery and LEDs.

17
LI: Be able to communicate a finalised product. (Design)
(1.3.2, 1.4.2, 2.1.4, 4.3.5, 4.4.1, 4.5.1-4, 5.4.3-4, 5.4.6, 5.4.9-10, 5.4.12, 6.2.3, 6.4.1, 6.4.5)
Stick your cardboard model and one or more pictures of your final product.
Final Design

Insert pictures of
Insert Photo the cardboard
of final model for the base
of the game
product

18
LI: Be able to evaluate the final product against testing carried out. (Evaluate)
(2.1.3, 3.4.1)
Evaluation
Specificatio
Test Result Evaluation
ns
1.
Is there a sound
output when
the handle
touches the
wire?

2.
Is there a light
output?

3.
Does your game
apeal to young
children?

4. What
features does
your game have
that makes it
stand out from
the rest?

19