Chapter 5

Question 1

Planned obsolescence

Answer 1

Ensuring a product only performs its task for a certain amount of time

Question 2

Appropriately engineered quality

Answer 2

If a product only needs to last for a short period of time, then it would be a waste of materials and energy to ensure that it is robust enough last a long time

E.g disposable razors have plastic handles instead of metal because it’s cheaper to produce

Question 3

Designers must consider:

Answer 3

Cost

Reliability

Longevity - can be increased through upgrades, a good example being with mobile phones

Sustainability

Recyclability

Question 4

End of working life disposal

Answer 4

When a product is reused instead of recycled, it generally uses less energy and does not degrade in quality

Old car tyres are used to build houses or used for swings in children’s playgrounds

Newspapers can become insulation for cavity walls in houses, and can even be compressed to form the wall itself