← Technology and Design syllabus

Northern IrelandTechnology and Design

AS 1 Mechanical and Pneumatic Systems

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do cams convert rotary motion into a controlled reciprocating or oscillating output?

Cams and followers, cam profiles (pear, circular/eccentric, heart-shaped/snail), dwell, rise and fall, and crank-and-slider mechanisms.
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design answer on cams and followers, common cam profiles (pear, circular/eccentric, heart-shaped), the meaning of dwell, rise and fall, follower types, and the crank-and-slider mechanism for rotary-to-reciprocating conversion.
11 min answer →

How do gears change speed, torque and direction, and how is the gear ratio found?

Spur, idler, compound, bevel and worm gears, the gear ratio, and the trade-off between speed and torque.
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design answer on gear types - spur, idler, compound, bevel and worm - calculating the gear ratio from tooth numbers, and the trade-off between output speed and torque.
12 min answer →

How do levers and linkages multiply force and change motion?

The three classes of lever, the principle of moments, mechanical advantage, and linkages (reverse-motion, bell-crank, parallel).
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design answer on the three classes of lever, the principle of moments, calculating mechanical advantage and velocity ratio, and common linkages such as reverse-motion, bell-crank and parallel linkages.
12 min answer →

How do pneumatic components use compressed air to produce controlled motion?

Pneumatic components: single- and double-acting cylinders, control valves (3/2 and 5/2), and calculating the thrust of a cylinder.
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design answer on pneumatic systems, single- and double-acting cylinders, 3/2 and 5/2 control valves, and calculating the output force (thrust) of a cylinder from air pressure and piston area.
12 min answer →

How do pulley, belt and chain drives transmit rotary motion and change speed?

Belt and pulley drives, the velocity ratio from pulley diameters, chain and sprocket drives, and pulley systems for lifting.
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design answer on belt and pulley drives, calculating the velocity ratio from pulley diameters, chain and sprocket drives, and the mechanical advantage of pulley lifting systems.
11 min answer →

What are the four types of motion, and how do mechanisms convert between them?

The four types of motion (linear, rotary, reciprocating, oscillating) and the role of mechanisms in changing the type, direction or magnitude of motion and force.
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design answer on the four types of motion - linear, rotary, reciprocating and oscillating - and how mechanisms change the type, direction or magnitude of motion and force.
11 min answer →