What Is Technology?
Technology means using knowledge and tools to solve problems and make daily life easier. Many things around us are products made using technology, such as a bicycle, a torchlight, a stapler and a bottle opener. Each one is designed to do a job better than doing it by hand.
Key idea
A good product uses the right simple machine and the right material to solve a problem safely and easily.
Simple Machines and Materials
Many products use simple machines. A lever in a bottle opener helps us lift a cap. A wheel on a trolley helps us move heavy things. A pulley helps us raise a flag. Products also use suitable materials. Metal is strong for a knife, plastic is light for a bottle, and rubber grips well for a tyre.
Example
A pair of scissors uses a lever and sharp metal blades. This lets us cut cloth quickly and neatly, which our hands cannot do.
- Simple machines make work easier.
- The right material makes a product strong, safe and useful.