Question

Which products do you think required scientific knowledge to develop? Check all that apply.

a flashlight
a cell phone
a hair dryer
eyeglasses
a microwave
household cleaners

Answer 1

All of them.

- Flashlight — battery chemistry, electricity and basic circuit design.
- Cell phone — electronics, materials science, electromagnetic theory, software engineering.
- Hair dryer — electric heating elements, motor and airflow design, materials.
- Eyeglasses — optics (refraction, lenses) and precision manufacturing.
- Microwave — electromagnetic (microwave) physics, magnetron design, safety engineering.
- Household cleaners — chemistry (formulation, surfactants, disinfectants) and often microbiology for antimicrobials.