Properties of Electronic & Mechanical Components (AQA GCSE Design & Technology): Revision Note
Exam code: 8552
Properties of electronic and mechanical components in commercial products
Commercial products are made from electrical and mechanical components because of their properties
For each commercial product, the material used will have properties which benefit the use of that product
Commercial products made from electrical and mechanical components
Domestic electrical appliances (electronic)
Motor vehicles (mechanical)
Motor vehicles
Sensors to allow the car to be responsive to its environment
Sensors help a car to be safer, by sensing the spaces around the car and providing this as information to the driver
Sensors support cars to become "smarter"
Material / component | Property | Functional consequence |
Copper wiring and contacts inside switches and sensors | Conductivity (physical) | Allows electrical signals from sensors to reach the car’s control system quickly and reliably |
Metal spring contacts inside pressure and light sensors | Elasticity (mechanical) | Lets the contact deform when pressure or light triggers it, then spring back to its original shape so the sensor resets for the next reading |
Polymer sensor housings | Toughness (mechanical) | Absorbs impact and vibration from the road without cracking, protecting the electronics inside |
Domestic appliances
Switches allow the customer to turn the product on and off
Timers allow the customer to set an appliance working for a certain time
Lights and buzzers are outputs from an electronic device
Material/component | Property | Functional consequence |
Solder joining components to the circuit board | Fusibility (physical) | Has a low melting point, so it can be melted with a soldering iron to join components without damaging them, then re-solidifies to hold a permanent electrical connection |
Metal switch contacts | Conductivity (physical) | Allows current to flow when the switch is closed, so the appliance turns on |
Metal spring inside a mechanical switch or timer dial | Elasticity (mechanical) | Springs back after being pressed or turned, allowing the switch or timer to reset for reuse |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In answers about components, name the actual property that makes the component fit for purpose, then explain the consequence: e.g. 'the sensor casing has high toughness, so it withstands vibration and knocks without cracking' or 'the wiring has good electrical conductivity, so signals from the sensor reach the control unit reliably'.
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