What physical and mechanical properties of materials does product design depend on, and how are they defined and measured?
The physical and mechanical properties of materials (strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, malleability, elasticity, plasticity, density, conductivity, durability) and how they govern the suitability of a material for a product, including the calculation of density.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level Product Design on the physical and mechanical properties of materials: tensile and compressive strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, malleability, elasticity, plasticity, density and conductivity, with definitions, the density calculation, and how each property governs material choice.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to define the physical and mechanical properties of materials precisely, calculate density, and explain how each property decides whether a material suits a product. Properties are the link between a material's structure and its job, so they are tested as recall, as a calculation (density) and as the reasoning behind material selection.
Strength: tensile and compressive
Hardness, toughness and the trade-off between them
Ductility, malleability, elasticity and plasticity
Physical properties: density, conductivity and durability
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20204 marksDefine toughness and define hardness, and for each name one product where that property is critical, justifying your choice.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 short-answer question. One mark for each definition and one for each justified product.
Toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and resist impact or sudden shock without fracturing (it resists crack propagation); a critical product is a hard hat or a power-tool casing in ABS, because it must survive being dropped or struck without shattering. Hardness is the ability of a material to resist scratching, indentation and surface wear; a critical product is a chisel blade or a drill bit in high carbon (tool) steel, because the cutting edge must resist abrasion and stay sharp.
A common dropped mark is swapping the two: toughness is about impact and energy absorption, hardness is about surface wear and indentation. They often trade off, because a very hard material is frequently brittle (low toughness).
Eduqas 20224 marksA block of aluminium has a mass of 540 g and measures 100 mm by 50 mm by 40 mm. Calculate its density in kilograms per cubic metre, showing your working, and state one product where aluminium's density makes it a good choice.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 calculation question. Marks for the volume, the substitution, the answer with units, and the application.
Convert to SI units. Volume cubic metres. Mass g kg. Density kg per cubic metre. A good application is an aircraft or bicycle component (or a drinks can), because aluminium's low density gives a high strength-to-weight ratio, saving weight while keeping useful strength.
A common dropped mark is leaving the volume in cubic centimetres or millimetres; convert lengths to metres first. The accepted value for aluminium is about kg per cubic metre.
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