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Northern IrelandTechnology and Design

Mechanisms and motion

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do belt and chain drives transmit rotary motion, and how is the velocity ratio found?

Belt and pulley drives, and chain and sprocket drives: transmitting rotary motion over a distance, the velocity ratio, and choosing between them.
A CCEA GCSE Technology and Design answer on belt and pulley drives and chain and sprocket drives: transmitting rotary motion over a distance, calculating the velocity ratio from pulley or sprocket sizes, slip, and choosing between belts and chains.
11 min answer →

How do cams, cranks, screws and rack-and-pinion convert one type of motion into another?

Motion converters: cams and followers, crank and slider, rack and pinion, and screw threads, and the motion change each produces.
A CCEA GCSE Technology and Design answer on motion converters: cams and followers, the crank and slider, rack and pinion, and screw threads, explaining the input and output motion each one produces and where they are used.
11 min answer →

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

Gears and gear trains: simple gear trains, gear ratio, the effect on speed, torque and direction, idler gears, and compound gear trains.
A CCEA GCSE Technology and Design answer on gears and gear trains: simple gear trains, calculating gear ratio from teeth, the effect on output speed, torque and direction, the role of an idler gear, and compound gear trains for large ratios.
12 min answer →

How do levers and linkages give a mechanical advantage, and how are moments calculated?

Levers and linkages: the three classes of lever, the principle of moments, mechanical advantage, and linkages that change the direction of motion.
A CCEA GCSE Technology and Design answer on levers and linkages: the three classes of lever, the principle of moments with the equation moment equals force times distance, mechanical advantage, and linkages that change the direction or size of a motion.
12 min answer →

What are the four types of motion, and how do mechanisms convert one into another?

The four types of motion - linear, rotary, reciprocating and oscillating - and the idea of mechanisms converting one type of motion into another.
A CCEA GCSE Technology and Design answer on the four types of motion - linear, rotary, reciprocating and oscillating - with everyday examples, and how mechanisms change the type, direction or size of a motion or force.
11 min answer →