Design and Technology GCSE
Toughness
What Toughness means in Design and Technology GCSE, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Toughness
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
The ability of a material to absorb sudden impact energy without fracturing or shattering.
The ability of a material to absorb impact energy without fracturing or breaking.
The ability of a material to absorb impact force without fracturing or breaking.
The ability of a material to absorb impact force without fracturing or snapping.
The ability of a material to absorb impact or sudden shock without fracturing.
The ability of a material to absorb sudden impact or shock without fracturing.
Topics that use Toughness
- Metals: The sources, origins, physical and working properties of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and their social and ecological footprint (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Polymers: The sources, origins, physical and working properties of thermoforming and thermosetting polymers and their social and ecological footprint (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- The categorisation of the types, properties and structure of natural and manufactured timbers (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- The categorisation of the types, properties and structure of thermoforming and thermosetting polymers (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Timbers: Design contexts (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Timbers: The sources, origins, physical and working properties of each natural and manufactured timber and their social and ecological footprint (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Manufactured Board
- Durability
- Ecological Footprint
- Hardwood
- Softwood
- Thermoforming Polymer
- Thermosetting Polymer
- Alloy
Using Toughness in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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