The Vacuum Cleaner
In this activity you will consider how scientific advances (such as understanding the principles of air flow) can lead to advances in technology (such as the vacuum cleaner), which then lead to improvements in people’s quality of life, and a decrease in the quality of life for fleas and dust mites!
Step 1. The Relationship Between Science and Technology
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge in the design or creation of something to meet a specific need. For example, the following scientific discoveries enabled the vacuum cleaner to become a reality: the behaviour of electrons in different metals, how to produce electricity on a large scale, the design of electric motors, and the invention of pneumatic systems.
