advancements in tech

Question 1

what are transistors and their purpose?

Answer 1

• solid state versions of old thermochromic valves used in early computers
• control the flow of an electric current

Question 2

difference between old thermochromic valves and new transistors

Answer 2

thermochromic valves
-energy hungry
-burn out quick
-big
Transistors
-semiconductor materials
-small
-reliable 
-billions made on a silicon wafer

Question 3

how have microelectronics developed over time? [5]

Answer 3

• smaller
• more efficient
• portable due to batteries
• greater processing power
• multi functional

Question 4

what do digital systems do?

Answer 4

use transistors as electronic switches for making decisions and storing data

Question 5

what 3 jobs have changed due to integrated microelectronics?

Answer 5

journalists
bank clerks
pilots

Question 6

what are materials being designed to improve?

Answer 6

functionality and efficiency

Question 7

what are polymers being replaced with and why?

Answer 7

ecofriendly versions are being developed to decrease environmental impact as polymers are negative for the environment

Question 8

what is a modern material?

Answer 8

• recently discovered
• used in a different way to function
• blended, coated, alloyed or treated to improve function or aesthetics

Question 9

What is a smart material?

Answer 9

• reacts to an external stimulus and changes characteristics or properties
• stimuli like light, temperature, electricity or moisture

Question 10

What is Kevlar reinforced plastic used for and why?

Answer 10

speaker cones as it has great acoustic properties

Question 11

name a memory shape alloy

Answer 11

nitinol

Question 12

how big are nanomaterials?

Answer 12

1 - 1000 nanometers

Question 13

name a nanomaterial

Answer 13

graphene

Question 14

properties of graphene [6]

Answer 14

• 200x tougher than steel
• stretchable
• flexible
• transparent
• impermeable
• highly conductive

Question 15

uses for graphene

Answer 15

• flexible electronics
• biomedicine
• energy storage
• composite materials

Question 16

what can 3D printing robots do?

Answer 16

• print on 6 axis
• complex shapes in different materials
• high accuracy
• improving speed levels

Question 17

what CAD software is used in manufacture?

Answer 17

computational fluid dynamics and Finite element analysis

Question 18

what has made cad training easier?

Answer 18

standardisation of operating systems and associated file types

Question 19

how is CAD/CAM easier now?

Answer 19

better interface and standardized visual computer languages [instead of code]

Question 20

What does VR do?

Answer 20

• allows the user to virtually touch and feel their designs
• they can select tools and sculpt with their hands
• zoom and be inside a design

Question 21

how does integrated CAD and CAM help design?

Answer 21

• allows for mass customization

- products can be designed by the customer and changed to suit them

Question 22

what does generative design do?

Answer 22

• makes lightweight and consistently strong forms
• uses precise amounts of material
• max performance and zero waste
• can convert data from testing into alternative solutions