A short, clear statement explaining the problem and how the student intends to solve it.
A major part of the investigation and evaluation is understanding why structures fail. The memorandum will look for students identifying: Breaking due to excessive load. Bending: Deforming under pressure.
Falling over due to a narrow base or high center of gravity. 3. Strengthening Techniques To prevent failure, students must apply: technology grade 9 mini pat term 1 memorandum
At least two or three rough, freehand sketches of different ideas.
While exact marking rubrics vary from school to school depending on the specific project chosen (e.g., a truss bridge vs. a pylon), a standard CAPS-aligned memorandum generally allocates marks across the following sections: Phase 1: Investigation (approx. 20% of marks) A short, clear statement explaining the problem and
Identifying what worked well and what could be improved.
Building a scale model using safe, accessible materials. Bending: Deforming under pressure
Using triangular shapes to make a structure rigid. Cross-bracing: Adding diagonal supports. 📝 The Mini-PAT Memorandum: A Breakdown of Marks
Students must understand how different forces act on a structure and how to counteract them: Pulling forces. Compression: Pushing or squashing forces.
Don't leave the physical building of the model to the night before it is due. Glue needs time to dry!