Environmental, Social And Economic Challenge
Overview
In the 1970s a shortage made a certain material expensive overnight, and manufacturers who had never thought about the weight of a drinks can suddenly had a reason to. The can that used to weigh over 80 grams now weighs about a third of that, and every gram came off because somebody was forced to look. Nobody set out to reduce material use for its own sake. A constraint arrived, and it turned into forty years of design improvement.
This lesson is about that mechanism. The specification asks how three named challenges, deforestation, resource depletion such as water and minerals, and a possible increase in carbon dioxide levels leading to potential global warming, might present opportunities and constraints that influence the processes of designing and making. Both words matter. A challenge closes some options and opens others, and a designer who can only see the closing half is answering half the question. This is designing and making principles content, examined in Section C of Paper 1, which carries half the marks on the paper.
Objectives
- The environment, social and economic challenges that influence design and making. How the following might present opportunities and constraints that influence the processes of designing and making:
- deforestation
- resource depletion e.g., water, minerals
- possible increase in carbon dioxide levels leading to potential global warming.
Mind map
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Environmental, Social And Economic Challenge. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of the following does the specification name as an example of resource depletion? A. Acid rain B. Global dimming C. Minerals D. Planned obsolescence Answer: C
- For which product is most of the carbon dioxide released during the use phase rather than in manufacture? A. A cardboard carton B. A refrigerator C. A wooden chair D. A set of steel shelves Answer: B
- A lamp drawing 8 watts replaces one drawing 40 watts, used for 2 hours a day for 5 years. How much electrical energy is saved? A. 11.7 kilowatt hours B. 58.4 kilowatt hours C. 116.8 kilowatt hours D. 146 kilowatt hours Answer: C
- Which design response most directly addresses the depletion of mineral resources? A. Bonding dissimilar materials for strength B. Specifying recycled metal and designing for disassembly C. Increasing the wall thickness of a moulding D. Adding a decorative finish Answer: B
- Bamboo is often specified as a response to deforestation because it A. is a hardwood. B. is a grass that regrows in a few years. C. cannot be recycled. D. contains no carbon. Answer: B
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