Practice IB Design Technology (DT) Topic 4.2b Timber with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 4.2b Timber and mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 style where relevant.
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Which characteristic of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) makes it a preferred choice for creating decorative furniture panels with intricate routed details?
A furniture manufacturer requires timber with a moisture content of for a climate-controlled interior project. Which row in the table below correctly identifies the most suitable seasoning method and a characteristic of that process?
| Seasoning Method | Characteristic | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Air Seasoning | Can reach very low moisture levels regardless of local humidity |
| B | Air Seasoning | A rapid drying process that minimizes the storage space required |
| C | Kiln Seasoning | Uses a controlled environment to achieve specific moisture levels |
| D | Kiln Seasoning | The least expensive method as it requires no specialized equipment |
Which manufactured board is made from thin layers of wood veneer?
The Anglepoise lamp was originally designed in 1932 by George Carwardine and is considered a classic design. The Anglepoise lamp has undergone many iterations since 1932 and is now mass-produced as a modern consumer product, see Figure 4.
Many designers have been influenced by the Anglepoise lamp. The Agency of Design, a design company, set themselves a challenge to redesign the Anglepoise lamp by using the lowest possible embodied energy. The lamp is made from a hardwood structure with a bottle cork as an adjustment mechanism, see Figure 5.
Figure 4: A modern version of the Anglepoise lamp
Figure 5: The Agency of Design redesign
Figure 4: Image of the Anglepoise Original 1227 lamp shown with permission by Anglepoise Limited.
Figure 5: The Agency of Design, 2010. A 10-megajoule lamp. Available at:
https://agencyofdesign.co.uk/projects/designing-with-energy. With permission from The Agency of Design.
Describe how the designer of the modern Anglepoise lamp in Figure 4 has achieved a compromise between form and function.
Outline one aesthetic characteristic of hardwood that makes it suitable for use in the redesigned Anglepoise lamp.
Timber products are frequently coated to improve their performance in specific environments. What is the primary reason for selecting a polyurethane varnish when finishing a hardwood floor in a high-traffic area?