### **Study Notes for Technology Grade 7 (2023/24)**

Below are the **detailed** study notes for Grade 7 Technology, arranged by **importance** and
**difficulty**.

---

### **1. Design Process and Skills**

*Importance: High* | *Difficulty: Medium*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **IDMEC Methodology**:

This stands for **Investigate**, **Design**, **Make**, **Evaluate**, and **Communicate**. It’s
the main framework used for solving problems in technology.

- **Investigate**: Understand the problem scenario.

- **Design**: Create a design brief, brainstorm ideas, and choose the best one.

- **Make**: Construct the solution (e.g., a model or prototype).

- **Evaluate**: Test and reflect on the efficiency and effectiveness.

- **Communicate**: Present findings and ideas clearly.

- **Key Focus**: The problem scenario for the **Practical Assessment Task (PAT)** is usually
related to the impact of technology, such as emergency workers using the "Jaws of Life" to rescue
trapped accident victims.

#### Important Skills:

- **Write a design brief** specifying the requirements of the task.

- **Apply the design process** to create functional solutions.

---

### **2. Mechanical Systems and Control**

*Importance: High* | *Difficulty: High*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **Levers**:

- **First-class levers**: The fulcrum is between the effort and load (e.g., scissors, pliers).

- **Second-class levers**: The load is between the effort and fulcrum (e.g., wheelbarrow).

- **Third-class levers**: The effort is between the load and fulcrum (e.g., tweezers).

**Mechanical Advantage**: Measures how much easier it is to lift or move an object using a
machine. A higher mechanical advantage means less effort is needed.

- **Linkages**:

- **Simple linkages**: Systems with connected levers that transfer motion (e.g., scissors).

- **Complex linkages**: Systems with more than one pivot point.

- **Pneumatics and Hydraulics**:

- **Pneumatics**: Using compressed air to transfer force.

- **Hydraulics**: Using compressed liquid (like water) to transfer force. Hydraulics can produce a
mechanical advantage for heavy lifting (e.g., in "Jaws of Life").

#### Important Skills:

- **Investigate and demonstrate levers** using practical examples.

- **Understand the difference** between pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

---

### **3. Graphical Communication and Drawing**

*Importance: High* | *Difficulty: Medium*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **Graphical Communication**: Used to represent designs visually through sketches, diagrams, and
technical drawings.
- **Key Drawing Techniques**:

- **Free-hand sketches**: Used to quickly communicate ideas.

- **2D working drawings**: Show a detailed view of an object from one perspective.

- **3D oblique drawing**: Shows an object with depth at a 45-degree angle, helping to visualize
the design.

- **Conventions in Drawings**:

- **Outlines**: Dark lines.

- **Construction lines**: Feint lines to guide drawing.

- **Hidden detail**: Dashed lines to show parts that are hidden from view.

- **Dimensioning**: Adding measurements to the drawing.

#### Important Skills:

- **Create 2D and 3D technical drawings** using correct conventions.

- **Use drawing to communicate ideas** effectively, especially in practical tasks.

---

### **4. Structures and Materials**

*Importance: High* | *Difficulty: High*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **Types of Structures**:

- **Shell structures**: Hollow structures designed to contain (e.g., a dome).

- **Frame structures**: Made up of interconnected parts that support loads (e.g., bridges, pylons).

- **Solid structures**: Entirely solid materials supporting weight (e.g., brick walls).

- **Structural Reinforcement**: Techniques to make structures stronger, such as using

**triangulation** in frames for stability and rigidity.
- **Cell Phone Towers**: A common case study involves investigating the design and function of cell
phone towers. These are frame structures reinforced to withstand weather and maintain stability.

#### Important Skills:

- **Identify types of structures** and understand their purposes.

- **Investigate how to strengthen structures** using practical methods (folding, triangulation,

tubing).

---

### **5. Electrical Systems and Control**

*Importance: Medium* | *Difficulty: High*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **Electric Circuits**:

- **Simple circuits**: Include a power source (battery), switch, conductor (wire), and output (bulb
or buzzer).

- **Electromagnetism**:

- When electricity passes through a coil wrapped around an iron core, a **magnetic field** is
created, which can be turned on and off with a switch. Electromagnets are used in cranes for sorting
metals.

- **Cranks and Pulleys**:

- **Crank**: A mechanism that converts circular motion into linear motion, used for lifting or
moving objects.

- **Pulley**: A simple machine that uses a wheel and rope to lift heavy objects by changing the
direction of the force.

#### Important Skills:

- **Create simple electric circuits** and draw their diagrams.

- **Design and make electromagnets** to demonstrate practical applications like sorting metals.
---

### **6. Evaluation and Presentation Skills**

*Importance: Medium* | *Difficulty: Medium*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **Evaluation**: After making a design or product, it’s essential to evaluate its effectiveness.

- **Rubric Creation**: Learners develop rubrics to evaluate the products made by their peers,
assessing **objectivity**, **fairness**, and **validity**.

- **Presentation**:

- Teams present their designs and models, explaining the key principles (e.g., electromagnet
strength, crane functionality, and the value of recycling).

- **Collaboration**: Group work helps learners develop teamwork and communication skills, as they
must share roles in presentations and model making.

#### Important Skills:

- **Evaluate models and designs** critically using rubrics.

- **Present and explain designs** clearly, focusing on functionality and problem-solving.

---

### **7. Impact of Technology and Indigenous Technologies**

*Importance: Medium* | *Difficulty: Medium*

#### Detailed Notes:

- **Impact of Technology**:

- Investigate how technologies like cell towers or windmills impact the environment and society
(e.g., visual pollution, safety, stability).
- **Indigenous Technologies**:

- Technologies used by indigenous cultures often involve environmentally friendly methods, such as
using locally sourced materials.

- **Emergency Shelters**: A project may involve designing emergency shelters for disaster victims,
using materials like bamboo or grass, which are renewable and sustainable.

#### Important Skills:

- **Investigate the societal impact** of modern technology and how it can be improved.

- **Design solutions using indigenous knowledge** and environmentally friendly materials.

---

### **Difficulty Ranking**:

1. Design Process and Skills – **Medium**

2. Mechanical Systems and Control – **High**

3. Graphical Communication and Drawing – **Medium**

4. Structures and Materials – **High**

5. Electrical Systems and Control – **High**

6. Evaluation and Presentation Skills – **Medium**

7. Impact of Technology and Indigenous Technologies – **Medium**

---

### **Importance Ranking**:

1. Design Process and Skills – **High**

2. Mechanical Systems and Control – **High**

3. Graphical Communication and Drawing – **High**

4. Structures and Materials – **High**

5. Electrical Systems and Control – **Medium**

6. Evaluation and Presentation Skills – **Medium**

7. Impact of Technology and Indigenous Technologies – **Medium**

---

These notes should provide a **comprehensive guide** for your Grade 7 Technology studies.
Prioritize the **high-importance** and **high-difficulty** topics for exams, especially those that
involve both theoretical and practical applications, such as **mechanical systems** and
**structures**.

### **Grade 7 Technology Exam**

**Total Marks**: 80

**Duration**: 1.5 Hours

---

### **SECTION A: Multiple Choice Questions** (20 Marks)

*Each question is worth 1 mark.*

Choose the correct answer and write the letter next to the question number.

1. **What is the first step in the design process?**

a) Make

b) Design

c) Investigate

d) Evaluate

2. **Which of the following is an example of a first-class lever?**

a) Tweezers

b) Wheelbarrow

c) Scissors

d) Tongs
3. **Which material is most commonly used in frame structures?**

a) Metal

b) Plastic

c) Wood

d) Rubber

4. **What type of drawing is used to show depth at a 45-degree angle?**

a) 3D Isometric

b) 3D Oblique

c) 2D Orthographic

d) Freehand Sketch

5. **What does the term 'triangulation' refer to in structures?**

a) The use of triangle shapes for strength

b) The bending of materials

c) The rotation of a structure

d) The covering of a structure

6. **Which of the following is an input in the production process?**

a) A finished product

b) Labor

c) Packaging

d) Marketing

7. **What is the main function of a linkage mechanism?**

a) To transfer movement

b) To produce electricity

c) To cut materials

d) To create heat

8. **Pneumatic systems use which medium to transfer force?**

 a) Water

b) Air

c) Oil

d) Electricity

9. **A shell structure is best defined as**:

a) A solid block of material

b) A frame structure covered by a material

c) A hollow structure that encloses space

d) A structure made of triangular shapes

10. **What is the purpose of the evaluation step in the design process?**

a) To create the design

b) To improve and test the solution

c) To gather materials

d) To research the problem

---

### **SECTION B: True or False** (10 Marks)

*Each question is worth 1 mark.*

Write **True** or **False** next to each statement.

11. **An electromagnet can be turned off by stopping the electric current.**

12. **Hydraulic systems use air pressure to move objects.**

13. **The design brief outlines the problem that needs to be solved.**

14. **Linkages are only used in electronic systems.**

15. **In a second-class lever, the load is between the effort and the fulcrum.**

16. **An orthographic drawing shows different views of an object.**

17. **A bridge is an example of a frame structure.**

18. **The term ‘input’ in a system refers to the finished product.**

19. **Gears are used to transfer motion and change direction in machines.**

20. **Isometric drawings show objects without perspective.**

---

### **SECTION C: Match the Columns** (10 Marks)

*Each question is worth 1 mark.*

Match the term in **Column A** with the correct description from **Column B**.

| **Column A** | **Column B** |

|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|

| 21. Hydraulic system | a) Uses air to transfer force |

| 22. First-class lever | b) Example: scissors |

| 23. Oblique drawing | c) Changes movement direction |

| 24. Shell structure | d) Hollow structure that encloses space |

| 25. Pneumatic system | e) Transfers force using liquid |

| 26. Gear | f) Shows depth at a 45-degree angle |

| 27. Input | g) Resources such as labor and materials|

| 28. Linkage | h) Allows movement from one part to another|

| 29. Frame structure | i) Example: bridges, towers |

| 30. Isometric drawing | j) Shows an object without perspective |

---

### **SECTION D: Short Answer Questions** (20 Marks)

*Each question is worth 2 marks.*

**Answer the following questions.**

31. **What is the purpose of the design process in technology?**

32. **List two differences between a frame structure and a shell structure.**

33. **Explain how gears can be used to increase speed in a machine.**

34. **What is the main difference between a hydraulic system and a pneumatic system?**

35. **Why is triangulation important in strengthening structures?**

36. **Explain the term ‘lever’ and give one example of where it is used.**

37. **What is a technical drawing, and why is it important in the design process?**

38. **List two advantages of using an electromagnet over a permanent magnet.**

39. **What are two benefits of using renewable materials in the production process?**

40. **Explain what a linkage does in a mechanical system.**

---

### **SECTION E: Long Answer Questions** (20 Marks)

**Answer all the questions in this section.**

41. **The Design Process** (10 Marks)

a) **What are the five steps in the design process? Briefly explain each step.** (5)

b) **Why is it important to evaluate a design after it has been built?** (3)

c) **What would you do if your design does not solve the problem effectively?** (2)

---

42. **Structures and Materials** (10 Marks)

 a) **Explain the difference between natural and man-made structures. Give one example of
each.** (4)

b) **Name two materials commonly used in construction and explain why they are chosen for
specific structures.** (4)

c) **What are the characteristics of a strong structure?** (2)

---

### **END OF EXAM**

This exam includes a variety of question types—**multiple choice, true/false, matching, short
answer, and long answer questions**—to assess the key concepts covered in Grade 7 Technology,
such as **mechanical systems, structures, the design process, and technical drawing**.