Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications — AQA A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design
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Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications explained
This criterion has two linked demands. First, you must be able to name specific materials for a wide range of applications, so a bicycle frame, a drinks bottle, a kitchen worktop and a phone case should each prompt a named material rather than a vague category.
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Second, you must give detailed, justified explanations of why a material, or a combination of materials, suits a given application. A strong answer names the material, identifies the property that matters in that use, and links the two with reasoning. For example, a laminated windscreen combines glass for optical clarity and scratch resistance with a polymer interlayer for impact absorption, so each component is justified by a different demand. The clause ends with a colon, so the following property statements supply the reference points you must use.
Your focus
- Name a specific material for a range of given applications.
- Identify the property that makes a named material suitable for a stated use.
- Explain how each component of a material combination contributes to the product's performance.
Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications flashcards
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Naming specific materials
Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications exam tips
Marking Points
- Names a specific material (not just a family such as 'metal' or 'plastic') for a stated application.
- Identifies the relevant property or properties that the application demands.
- Explains the link between the named property and the suitability for that use, rather than merely asserting suitability.
- Justifies a combination of materials by explaining what each component contributes to the overall performance.
- Uses correct material terminology and avoids unsupported claims about performance.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Read the application carefully and decide which property is decisive before choosing a material.
- 💡Structure the justification as material, property, application demand, so the reasoning is explicit.
- 💡When a combination is involved, justify each component separately and then explain the combined benefit.
Common Mistakes
- Naming only a broad family such as 'plastic' instead of a specific material such as polypropylene; correction: give the specific material and then justify it.
- Stating that a material is 'strong' or 'good' without linking to a named property; correction: name the property and explain why the application needs it.
- Treating a combination of materials as a single material; correction: explain the role of each component separately.
- Assuming one material must meet every demand; correction: show how a combination shares the demands between components.