The Information Is Always Up-To Date

Question(1)

Scenario: Scientists want to do the experiment on thermal conductivity of the different materials. (Thermal conductivity is basically talking about the temperature sustainability of the material when it have been heating up for certain periods of time. A box, which is shown in this picture represents a house and different pieces of material are heat up with Quartz halogen light, which is a light powerful light bulb. If the temperature do not really change, the material has high resistance to heat and row sustainability.) They prepared six distinguished materials which are Aluminum, steel, acrylic, polystyrene, plywood, and pine. They are going to use different kinds of data logger to record and analysis the data.

(This picture is taken by a Design Technology student who did the same experiment as the scenario) (which is me. I did this experiment in my DT class last year... therefore no citation!)

Exam Questions (a) Define the term real time data collection. (2) (b) Identify one analogue output device and one digital out put device involved in data logging. (2) (c) Explain advantages and disadvantages of the real time data collection. (6) (d) Evaluate the analogue device as compared to digital devices. And discuss how they are suitable or not suitable for the scenario. (10)

(a) Define the term real time data collection. (2) Real-time data collection means the information that is delivered immediately after the collection. There is no delay in the timeliness of the information provided.

(b) Identify one analogue output device and one digital out put device involved in data logging. (2) Analogue: thermometer, voltage logger Digital: sound wave meter, heat meter

(c) Explain advantages and disadvantages of the real time data collection. (6) Advantage:

 The information is always up-to date  Easier to see the changes in the results

Disadvantage:  It will not be really suitable for long term data logging  Impossible to see the final result - which means people need to wait until the result comes out

(d) Evaluate the analogue device as compared to digital devices. And discuss how they are suitable or not suitable for the scenario. (10) Analogue

 Analogue device can be not really accurate  Need human workers to record and analysis the data  Suitable for short term experiment  Anyone is accessible and able to purchase because it is cheaper  It is not suitable for scenario because there are a lot of things to measure  Taking too much time  Human errors

Digital

 It atomically records and analysis the data  Machine sometimes can be expensive  Needs a lot of equipments (software, hardware and PC to record the data)  Less time consuming  Too much information (e.g, machine can record the temperature per second... and if it is the long term experiment...)

Question(2)

A young kid Alexei loves to watch cable TV programs. Although the cable TV is quite old, it 'was' enough to watch channel programs. But one day, rainy season has come and the cable of Alexei's house is heavily damaged due to flood. Therefore, Alexei was not able to watch cable TV anymore. Therefore, Alexei's family searches for the new way of connection As a result, they finally find out the method called 'satellite communication'.

Q1. Define the term of satellite communication. (2 marks)

Q2. Explain ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of satellite Communications. (4 marks)

Q3. Describe the process of how signals can bring to Alexei's house. (4 marks)

Q4. Alexei's family now understood the advantage of the satellite communication and started to use it as their main connection side then. However, there are some disadvantages as well. Base on advantage & disadvantage that you have written in Q2, write a short paragraph about to what extent did satellite communication have changed people's lives and how did it impact on the environment. (10 marks) Mark Scheme

Q1. (Total 2 marks)

- A satellite that has been stationed in space for the purpose of providing telecommunications; - Commonly used for mobile phone signals, weather tracking, or broadcasting television programs; - Artificial satellites that relay receive signals from an earth station and then retransmit the signal to other earth stations. They commonly move in a geostationary orbit. - Q2. (Total 4 marks)

Advantages:

 used for long distance communication  high speed data transmission  many receiver stations can receive signal from the same sender station  Flexible (if transparent transponders)  Easy to install new circuits  Circuit costs independent of distance  Broadcast possibilities  Temporary applications (restoration)  Niche applications  Mobile applications (especially "fill-in")  Terrestrial network "by-pass"  Provision of service to remote or underdeveloped areas  User has control over own network  1-for-N multipoint standby possibilities

Disadvantages:

. Large up front capital costs (space segment and launch) . Terrestrial break even distance expanding (now approx. size of Europe) . Interference and propagation . Congestion of frequencies and orbit

Q3. (Total 4 marks) . The satellites that aid the transmission of television signals have elliptical or geostationary orbits; . The satellite television setup consists of a transmitting antenna or uplink satellite dishes pointed towards specific satellites; . The satellite houses transponders, which receive signals from the antenna; . The uplinked signals are tuned to a frequency range that corresponds to that of the transponders; . The transponders retransmit the signals back to Earth; . The signals that are transmitted by the transponders on a satellite are received by the parabolic dish; . The signal is reflected towards the feed horn, a device mounted at the focal point of the dish; . The satellite receiver sends the signals to the television set.

Q4. (Total 10 marks)

. Artificial satellite has limited functioning period which will crash on earth or remain around the orbit someday. . Most dust around the earth orbits are wreck of artificial satellites; . The satellite communication brought global communications . The satellite communication brought satellite mapping . The satellite communication has brought the invention of GPS/Navigation . It helped on astrogeology to observe part of the universe.

Question(3)

Computer factories are making more and more PCs every year. The number of PC shipments for import and export exceeded 9 billion last year. Some of the materials the factories use for making PCs are silicon, copper, plastic, fossil fuels, and chemical. Fossil fuels used in making PCs include oil and natural gas. These materials are non-renewable. The amount of fossil fuel started to decrease dramatically from 2002 and is predicted to decrease more in the future.

1. Define the term resource depletion. (2 marks) 2. Discuss two causes of resource depletion. (4 marks) 3. Examine two impacts of resource depletion as it applies to computer industry. (4 marks) 4. To what extent does the increased use of mobile computing outweigh the concerns of resource depletion and ewaste?

1. Define the term resource depletion. (2 marks)

Use of renewable resources and non-renewable resources beyond their rate of replacement within a region

2. Discuss two causes of resource depletion. (4 marks) -Irrigation (1) Irrigation needs water. Lots of irrigation needs lots of water. Over use of water can cause resource depletion of water. (1)

-Over population (1) More amounts of resources are needed in order to manage the large number of people. (1)

-Mining for oils and minerals (1) Minerals and oils are needed to provide humans with food, clothing, and housing and to continually upgrade the standard of living. Some minerals are renewable and some are not. (1)

-Technological and industrial development (1) As the technology is developing, more and more resources are needed to fulfill the needs. For example, fossil fuels are needed more now because more computers are being developed than before. (1)

3. Examine two negative impacts of resource depletion as it applies to computer industry. (4 marks)

The resources available for the computer industry to use are coming short. Fossil fuels are likely to be extinct in 20 years. Without fossil fuels, computers cannot be made. Because of the scarcity of some resources, the computer industry will not be able to produce many computers in demand. The price of the computer will eventually rise. The company’s sale will decrease.

Resource depletion can cause increase in unemployment rate. Once no more computers can be made, due to the resource depletion, the computer industry may go bankrupt. People who used to work in the computer industry could become unemployed. They would have to find a new job.

4. To what extent does the increased use of mobile computing outweigh the concerns of resource depletion and e-waste? (10 marks)

Mobile computers have made people’s lives a lot convenient. -Mobile computers are portable. -You can take it anywhere -People can get online anywhere with wireless Internet connection with just with laptops. -Mobile computers are light so people can carry easily. -People can work with motion using mobile computers. Don’t have to sit in particular place in a position.

However, there are disadvantages to using mobile computers. -Mobile computers worn out more easily than desktop computers. -Batteries start to last shorter in about a year. -Takes longer time to boot, as it gets old. -People are more likely to change laptop instead of recycling and replacing the pieces. -This causes resource depletion since computer manufacturers have to make more computers for customer’s demand. -This also leads to e-waste because most of the worn out computers just get thrown away, without being recycled. -Thus, increase in use of mobile computers, such as laptops and smart phones, can be harmful for resource depletion.

Question(4) Environment This question is about satellite communication (20Marks)

A lonely boy Shawn has relied on broadband internet connection to Skype with his girlfriend, however in recent years broadband connection has become overly crowded and Shawn's Skype signal with his girlfriend started lagging. He decided to pay for internet satellite services, Shawn believed and expected satellite internet connection to be faster, more stable, and private.

1. Define Satellite Communication (2 marks):

2. Describe two social and ethical issues involved in using Satellite Internet connection for private internet connection (4 marks):

3. Explain two reasons why Satellite communication can benefit the communications industry (4 marks):

4. Shawn has relied on internet satellite services ever since, however Shawn had to pay an additional 100 us dollars for the internet satellite service. In a short paragraph write a summary about: to what extent has Satellite communication changed our lives? And how has this impacted our environment? (10 marks)