Unit 7: B3 Product in practice

Topic 7.2: Structural systems applied Questions

Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Design Technology Topic 7.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.

1Identify1 mark
2026
A folding chair changes shape sideways without anything breaking. What has failed?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
2Identify1 mark
2026
A shelf sags. Which change reduces the deflection most for the least material?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
3State1 mark
2026
A 40 mm² bar carries 2,000 N. What is the stress?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
4State1 mark
2026
Where on a stress-strain graph is Young's modulus taken?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
5Apply6 marks
2026
A tie bar of cross-section 8 mm × 4 mm and length 500 mm carries 4,800 N and extends by 0.75 mm. Apply the formulae to find the stress, the strain and Young's modulus, and identify a likely material.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
6Identify1 mark
2026
Where does a crack in a loaded part usually start?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
7State1 mark
2026
An FEA plot shows red at one corner. What does that alone tell you?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
8State1 mark
2026
A 600 N load sits at the mid-span of a beam on two end supports. What is each reaction?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
9Identify1 mark
2026
Arrows on a member point towards each other. What is the member doing?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
10State1 mark
2026
A component fails at 9,000 N and is designed with a safety factor of 3. What is its allowable load?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
11Explain1 mark
2026
A swing seat carries a 100 kg user. Why is the design load per chain not 500 N?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
12Analyse6 marks
2026
A folding camping chair collapses sideways when a user leans back. Analyse the structure and recommend two changes.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
13Explain3 marks
2026
A wall-mounted coat rack pulls away from the wall at the top. Explain what is happening and how to fix it.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
14Apply3 marks
2026
A 2 m aluminium tie of cross-section 100 mm² carries 7,000 N. Apply E = 70 GPa to find how much it extends, and say whether that matters.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
15Explain6 marks
2026
A moulded polymer bracket cracks after eight months outdoors. FEA shows a peak stress of 18 MPa at a square internal corner, against a material yield of 45 MPa. Explain the failure.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
16Identify3 marks
2026
FEA of a steel lever shows 260 MPa at a drilled hole, against a yield of 250 MPa. Identify the problem and two changes.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
17Apply6 marks
2026
A 3 m shelf rests on two brackets at its ends. A 240 N load sits 0.5 m from the left bracket. Apply the conditions of equilibrium to find both reactions, and state where the shelf is most likely to fail.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
18Apply3 marks
2026
A 2 m beam on two end supports carries 600 N at mid-span and 400 N at 1.5 m from the left. Apply moments to find both reactions.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
19Apply6 marks
2026
A playground swing seat hangs from two chains. The heaviest intended user is 100 kg, the swing is used dynamically, and each chain fails at 12,000 N. Apply a suitable safety factor and check the design.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question
20Apply3 marks
2026
A shelf bracket fails in testing at 1,800 N. Apply a safety factor of 3 to find its rated load, and state one assumption.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question

Ready to practice Topic 7.2?

Get instant AI feedback on your answers, view detailed markschemes, and track your progress across all IB Design Technology topics.

Start Practising Now