Engineers face many challenges which require them to come up with innovative solutions. Pressing issues such as climate change, food shortages and lack of access to healthcare require cost-effective solutions. But how do we come up with solutions to some of the most difficult challenges facing the world today? This resource pack looks at the development of equipment used to diagnose disease in places without access to expensive equipment using toys as a starting point in the design process.

Key Specification Points:

Edexcel Physics A Level

• 17. be able to use the equation ∑F=ma and understand how to use this equation in situations where m is constant (Newton’s second law of motion) including Newton’s first law of motion where a = 0, objects at rest or travelling at constant velocity
  • Newton’s second law is explained and applied to the context of centrifugation
  • The use of Newton’s second law to inform design desicions is discussed as an example of the application of physics in engineering
• 51 a. be able to use the equation for viscous drag (Stokes’ law)
  • The use of Stokes’ law to determine the drag force on a spherical particle is given
  • Expanding the use of Stokes’ law to calculate the terminal velocity of a falling particle is shown
  • The use of Stokes’ law for applications in engineering is discussed
• 51 b. understand that this equation only applies to small spherical objects moving at low speeds
  • It is pointed out that this equation only applies in certain cases
  • The importance of assumptions as a part of engineering design is discussed