A-Level CAIE Engineering: Key Terminology Quick-Reference Guide | A-Level CAIE 工程：词汇术语速记指南

📚 A-Level CAIE Engineering: Key Terminology Quick-Reference Guide | A-Level CAIE 工程：词汇术语速记指南

This guide condenses the essential terminology from the CAIE A-Level Engineering syllabus into a structured, bilingual quick-reference format. Each term is paired with its Chinese equivalent and exam-focused notes, helping you revise efficiently and answer definition-based questions with confidence.

本指南将 CAIE A-Level 工程考纲中的核心术语浓缩为结构化中英对照速查手册。每个术语均配有中文对应词及考点提示，帮助你高效复习，从容应对定义类考题。

1. Mechanics & Statics | 力学与静力学

A force is a push or pull measured in newtons (N). The moment of a force about a point is its turning effect, calculated as the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the point to the line of action: M = F × d. A couple is a pair of equal, opposite and parallel forces that produces pure rotation with zero resultant force.

力是以牛顿（N）为单位的推或拉。力对某点的力矩（矩）是其转动效应，等于力与力的作用线到该点垂直距离的乘积：M = F × d。力偶是一对大小相等、方向相反且平行的力，产生纯旋转而合力为零。

Free body diagram (FBD) — a diagram showing all external forces acting on an isolated body | 自由体图 — 显示隔离体上所有外力的图
Equilibrium — the state where the resultant force and resultant moment are both zero | 平衡 — 合力与合力矩均为零的状态
Statically determinate — a structure whose reactions can be found from equilibrium equations alone | 静定 — 仅凭平衡方程即可求出支座反力的结构
Resultant — the single force that has the same effect as a system of forces | 合力 — 与力系效果相同的单一力
Support reaction — the force exerted by a support on a structure | 支座反力 — 支座对结构施加的力

For a body in equilibrium under coplanar forces, three independent equations apply: ΣFₓ = 0, ΣFᵧ = 0 and ΣM = 0. These equations form the starting point for all static analysis questions.

对于共面力系作用下的平衡物体，适用三个独立方程：ΣFₓ = 0、ΣFᵧ = 0 和 ΣM = 0。这些方程是所有静力分析题目的起点。

2. Dynamics & Kinematics | 动力学与运动学

Kinematics describes motion without reference to its causes, using displacement (s), velocity (v) and acceleration (a). Dynamics introduces force and mass through Newton’s laws. Newton’s second law states that the resultant force equals the rate of change of momentum, which for constant mass gives F = ma.

运动学描述运动而不涉及其原因，使用位移（s）、速度（v）和加速度（a）。动力学通过牛顿定律引入力与质量。牛顿第二定律指出合力等于动量变化率，在质量恒定时为 F = ma。

Displacement — the straight-line distance from a reference point in a specified direction (vector) | 位移 — 从参考点沿指定方向到终点的直线距离（矢量）
Velocity — rate of change of displacement; a vector quantity | 速度 — 位移的变化率；矢量
Acceleration — rate of change of velocity; measured in m s⁻² | 加速度 — 速度的变化率；单位为 m s⁻²
Work — the product of force and distance moved in the direction of the force, W = F × s (joules, J) | 功 — 力与沿力方向移动距离的乘积，W = F × s（焦耳，J）
Power — the rate of doing work, P = W ÷ t (watts, W) | 功率 — 做功的速率，P = W ÷ t（瓦特，W）

The uniform acceleration (suvat) equations are essential for exam problems: v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as. Memorise these and state which equation applies when a variable is missing.

匀加速（suvat）方程组是解题关键：v = u + at，s = ut + ½at²，v² = u² + 2as。熟记这些公式，并判断缺哪个变量就选哪个方程。

3. Materials Science | 材料科学

Materials science in CAIE Engineering focuses on the mechanical properties of materials under loading. Stress is the internal resistance per unit area (σ = F ÷ A, in Pa), while strain is the proportional deformation (ε = ΔL ÷ L, dimensionless). Young’s modulus is the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic region: E = σ ÷ ε.

CAIE 工程中的材料科学关注材料在载荷下的力学性能。应力是单位面积上的内阻力（σ = F ÷ A，单位 Pa），应变是比例变形（ε = ΔL ÷ L，无量纲）。杨氏模量是弹性区内应力与应变的比值：E = σ ÷ ε。

Yield strength — the stress at which plastic deformation begins | 屈服强度 — 塑性变形开始的应力
Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) — the maximum stress a material can withstand in tension | 抗拉强度（UTS）— 材料在拉伸中能承受的最大应力
Ductility — the ability to deform plastically without fracture | 延展性 — 不发生断裂而塑性变形的能力
Brittleness — the tendency to fracture with little or no plastic deformation | 脆性 — 几乎无塑性变形即断裂的倾向
Toughness — the energy absorbed per unit volume before fracture | 韧性 — 断裂前单位体积吸收的能量
Hardness — resistance to surface indentation or scratching | 硬度 — 抵抗表面压痕或刮擦的能力

In a tensile test, the stress-strain curve reveals the elastic region, yield point, plastic region and fracture point. The area under the curve represents toughness. Exam questions often ask you to label these regions and describe the shape of the curve for different materials.

拉伸试验的应力-应变曲线显示弹性区、屈服点、塑性区和断裂点。曲线下的面积代表韧性。考题常要求标注这些区域并描述不同材料曲线的形状。

4. Electrical & Electronic Systems | 电气与电子系统

Electrical terminology forms a compulsory part of the syllabus. Current (I) is the rate of flow of charge measured in amperes (A); voltage (V) is the energy delivered per unit charge in volts; resistance (R) opposes current flow and is measured in ohms (Ω). Ohm’s law states V = IR.

电气术语是考纲的必修部分。电流（I）是电荷流动速率，单位为安培（A）；电压（V）是单位电荷获得的能量，单位为伏特；电阻（R）阻碍电流流动，单位为欧姆（Ω）。欧姆定律：V = IR。

Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) — the sum of currents entering a node equals the sum leaving it | 基尔霍夫电流定律 — 流入节点的电流之和等于流出之和
Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) — the sum of EMF around any closed loop equals the sum of potential drops | 基尔霍夫电压定律 — 任一闭合回路中电动势之和等于电压降之和
Capacitance — the charge stored per unit voltage, C = Q ÷ V (farads, F) | 电容 — 单位电压储存的电荷，C = Q ÷ V（法拉，F）
Inductance — the property of a coil that opposes changes in current (henries, H) | 电感 — 线圈阻碍电流变化的属性（亨利，H）
Impedance — the total opposition to AC current, combining resistance and reactance (Ω) | 阻抗 — 交流电的总阻碍，含电阻与电抗（Ω）

For electronic systems, know the function of diodes (allow current in one direction), transistors (amplify or switch signals), and op-amps (operational amplifiers). Logic gates — AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR — require truth-table recall.

对于电子系统，需掌握二极管（单向导通）、晶体管（放大或开关信号）和运算放大器的功能。逻辑门 — 与门、或门、非门、与非门、或非门、异或门 — 需熟记真值表。

5. Thermodynamics | 热力学

Thermodynamics deals with heat, work and internal energy. Temperature is measured in kelvin (K); heat is energy transfer due to a temperature difference. Specific heat capacity (c) is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 K: Q = mcΔT.

热力学研究热、功和内能。温度以开尔文（K）为单位；热是因温差引起的能量传递。比热容（c）是使 1 kg 物质升温 1 K 所需的能量：Q = mcΔT。

Q = mcΔT | E = Pt | efficiency = useful output ÷ total input × 100%

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed: ΔU = Q − W, where ΔU is the change in internal energy, Q is heat added and W is work done by the system. In CAIE questions, you may be asked to apply this to engines and refrigerators.

热力学第一定律指出能量既不能凭空产生也不能消失，只能转化：ΔU = Q − W，其中 ΔU 是内能变化，Q 是外界传入的热量，W 是系统对外做的功。CAIE 考题可能要求将其应用于发动机和制冷机。

Conduction — heat transfer through a material without bulk movement | 传导 — 无宏观运动的热传递
Convection — heat transfer by the movement of fluids | 对流 — 流体宏观运动引起的热传递
Radiation — heat transfer via electromagnetic waves, requiring no medium | 辐射 — 通过电磁波传热，无需介质
Thermal efficiency — useful work output divided by heat input | 热效率 — 有用功输出除以热量输入

6. Fluid Mechanics | 流体力学

Fluid mechanics is an optional but frequently assessed topic. Pressure (p) in a static fluid is p = ρgh, where ρ is density, g is gravitational acceleration and h is the depth. Gauge pressure excludes atmospheric pressure; absolute pressure includes it.

流体力学虽是选考但常被考查。静止流体的压强 p = ρgh，其中 ρ 为密度，g 为重力加速度，h 为深度。表压不含大气压；绝对压强含大气压。

p = ρgh | Q = Av | Re = ρvd ÷ μ

Viscosity (μ) — the internal friction of a fluid resisting flow | 粘度（μ）— 流体阻碍流动的内摩擦
Laminar flow — smooth, orderly flow in parallel layers | 层流 — 平行分层中的平稳有序流动
Turbulent flow — chaotic flow with mixing and eddies | 湍流 — 具有混合和涡旋的无序流动
Reynolds number (Re) — a dimensionless ratio predicting flow regime; Re < 2000 indicates laminar, Re > 4000 turbulent | 雷诺数（Re）— 预测流态的无量纲比值；Re < 2000 为层流，Re > 4000 为湍流
Bernoulli’s equation — p + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant along a streamline | 伯努利方程 — 沿流线 p + ½ρv² + ρgh = 常数

Flow rate (Q) is the volume of fluid passing a cross-section per second, Q = Av, where A is cross-sectional area and v is the average velocity. Continuity requires that Q is constant along an incompressible pipe.

流量（Q）是每秒通过横截面的流体体积，Q = Av，其中 A 为横截面积，v 为平均速度。连续性要求不可压缩管道中 Q 恒定。

7. Structures & Loads | 结构与载荷

Structural terminology distinguishes load types and internal actions. A point (concentrated) load acts at a single location; a uniformly distributed load (UDL) is spread across a beam length, usually expressed in N m⁻¹. Internal actions include tension, compression, bending and torsion.

结构术语区分载荷类型与内力作用。点（集中）载荷作用于单点；均布载荷（UDL）分布在整个梁长，通常以 N m⁻¹ 表示。内力作用包括拉伸、压缩、弯曲和扭转。

Bending moment — the internal moment at a beam cross-section, M (N·m) | 弯矩 — 梁截面处的内力矩，M（N·m）
Shear force — the internal force acting perpendicular to a beam axis, V (N) | 剪力 — 垂直于梁轴的内力，V（N）
Neutral axis — the line in a bending beam where stress is zero | 中性轴 — 弯曲梁中应力为零的线
Truss — a pin-jointed frame of straight members carrying only axial loads | 桁架 — 仅承受轴向载荷的铰接直杆框架
Factor of safety (FoS) — ultimate stress ÷ allowable (working) stress | 安全系数 — 极限应力 ÷ 许用（工作）应力

For beam calculations, you must draw shear force and bending moment diagrams. Remember that the slope of the bending moment diagram equals the shear force, and point loads appear as discontinuities.

对于梁的计算，必须绘制剪力图和弯矩图。记住弯矩图的斜率等于剪力，集中载荷处会出现突变。

8. Manufacturing & Processes | 制造与工艺

Manufacturing processes form a core knowledge area. Classify processes into subtractive (removing material), additive (adding material) and forming (reshaping material). Exam questions often ask you to compare processes in terms of cost, accuracy, surface finish and production rate.

制造工艺是核心知识领域。可将工艺分为减材（去除材料）、增材（添加材料）和成形（重塑材料）。考题常要求从成本、精度、表面质量和生产率方面比较工艺。

Turning — a lathe process that rotates the workpiece against a cutting tool | 车削 — 工件旋转、刀具进给的机床加工
Milling — a rotating cutter removes material from a stationary workpiece | 铣削 — 旋转刀具从固定工件上去除材料
Drilling — creating round holes with a rotating drill bit | 钻削 — 用旋转钻头加工圆孔
Casting — pouring molten metal into a mould; suitable for complex shapes | 铸造 — 将熔融金属浇入模具；适合复杂形状
Forging — shaping metal by compressive hammering or pressing | 锻造 — 通过锤击或压力成形金属
Welding — joining metals by melting the parent materials together | 焊接 — 通过熔化母材本身进行金属连接
Tolerance — the permitted dimensional variation of a component | 公差 — 零件尺寸允许的变动范围

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) builds parts layer by layer from CAD models, enabling complex geometries with minimal waste, typically used for prototyping or small batches. Understand its advantages and limitations in comparison with subtractive methods.

增材制造（3D 打印）依据 CAD 模型逐层构建零件，可实现复杂几何形状且废料极少，常用于原型或小批量生产。要理解它与减材方法相比的优缺点。

9. Engineering Design & Communication | 工程设计

The design process is a systematic cycle: identify the need → research → generate concepts → evaluate → develop the selected solution → prototype → test → refine → communicate. You must be able to list these stages in order and explain how user requirements and constraints influence each step.

设计过程是一个系统循环：确定需求 → 调研 → 生成概念 → 评估 → 深化所选方案 → 制作原型 → 测试 → 改进 → 交流。你须能按顺序列出各阶段，并解释用户需求和约束如何影响每一步。

Design brief — a statement of the problem and objectives | 设计简报 — 对问题与目标的陈述
Specification — a detailed list of measurable requirements and constraints | 设计规格 — 可测量要求与约束的详细清单
Prototype — a working model used for testing and evaluation | 原型 — 用于测试与评估的工作模型
Ergonomics — design for human interaction, comfort and safety | 人机工程学 — 面向人体交互、舒适与安全的设计
Orthographic projection — a 2-D drawing showing multiple views (front, top, side) | 正投影 — 显示多个视图（主视、俯视、侧视）的二维图
Isometric drawing — a 3-D pictorial representation at 30° axes | 等轴测图 — 以 30° 轴表示的三维立体图

Engineering drawings must include dimensions, tolerances, material specifications and a title block. In CAIE you may be required to read a drawing and identify missing views, or to sketch a simple component using orthographic or isometric conventions.

工程图必须包含尺寸、公差、材料规格和标题栏。CAIE 考试可能要求你读取图纸并找出缺失视图，或使用正投影或等轴测画法绘制简单零件草图。

10. Units, Symbols & Conventions | 单位、符号与约定

SI units form the language of engineering. Base units include metre (m), kilogram (kg), second (s) and ampere (A). Derived units include newton (N = kg·m·s⁻²), pascal (Pa = N·m⁻²), joule (J = N·m) and watt (W = J·s⁻¹). You must quote the correct unit in every calculation.

SI 单位制是工程的语言。基本单位包括米（m）、千克（kg）、秒（s）和安培（A）。导出单位包括牛顿（N = kg·m·s⁻²）、帕斯卡（Pa = N·m⁻²）、焦耳（J = N·m）和瓦特（W = J·s⁻¹）。每次计算都要写对单位。

Prefix 词头	Symbol 符号	Factor 倍数
giga \| 吉	G	10⁹
mega \| 兆	M	10⁶
kilo \| 千	k	10³
milli \| 毫	m	10⁻³
micro \| 微	μ	10⁻⁶

Check which prefix is used in the question before converting. A common error is mixing kN with N or MPa with Pa. Write the conversion as: 1 MPa = 1 × 10⁶ Pa = 1 N mm⁻².

解题前先检查题目使用的是哪个词头。常见错误是混用 kN 与 N 或 MPa 与 Pa。记住换算：1 MPa = 1 × 10⁶ Pa = 1 N mm⁻²。

11. Exam Command Words | 考纲指令词

Understanding command words determines how much detail to write. CAIE uses specific instruction verbs; responding incorrectly loses marks even when the content is correct. Learn the distinction between each pair of similar commands.

理解指令词决定了你要写多少细节。CAIE 使用特定指令动词；即使内容正确，若响应方式不对也会失分。务必掌握每对相似指令的区别。

State — write a brief factual answer without explanation | 陈述 — 简要给出事实性答案，无需解释
Define — give the precise meaning of a term | 定义 — 给出术语的精确含义
Calculate — use a formula to find a numerical value, showing working | 计算 — 用公式求解数值，需写出过程
Derive — obtain a formula from fundamental principles with logical steps | 推导 — 从基本原理出发，按逻辑步骤得到公式
Explain — give reasons and mechanisms, not just facts | 解释 — 给出原因和机理，而非仅陈述事实
Sketch — draw a rough diagram/Graph carrying the key shapes and labels | 作图 — 画出包含关键形状和标注的草图/曲线
Suggest — apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; use engineering judgement | 提出建议 — 将知识应用于陌生情境，运用工程判断

For example, ‘state Hooke’s law’ only requires F ∝ L within the limit of proportionality, while ‘explain’ requires you to describe the atomic mechanism of elastic deformation and the meaning of the proportional limit. Match your answer depth to the marks allocated.

例如，”陈述胡克定律”只需写出在比例极限内 F ∝ L；而”解释”则需要描述弹性变形的微观机制和比例极限的含义。答案深度要与分值匹配。

12. Quick Revision Tips | 速记小贴士

Use these memory strategies to retain terminology for the long term. First, build flashcards with English term on one side and the Chinese definition plus a formula on the other. Second, group terms by topic and draw a mind map showing relationships, such as stress → strain → Young’s modulus → deflection.

使用以下记忆策略长期保留术语。第一，制作闪卡：一面写英文术语，另一面写中文定义和公式。第二，按主题分组并绘制思维导图，展示关联，如应力 → 应变 → 杨氏模量 → 挠度。

Write each definition in your own words, then check against the mark scheme wording | 用你自己的话写出定义，再对照评分标准措辞检查
Practise past-paper definitions; CAIE often repeats the same terms | 练习真题定义题；CAIE 常重复相同术语
State the unit and symbol for every quantity you name | 写出每个物理量的单位和符号
For derivations, memorise the starting equation rather than the final result | 对于推导题，记住起始方程而非最终结果
Use the 3-5-7 review method: revise after 3 days, 5 days and 7 days | 使用 3-5-7 复习法：在 3 天、5 天和 7 天后复习
Explain a concept aloud in both English and Chinese to strengthen recall | 用中英双语出声解释概念，强化记忆提取

Finally, create a personal error log listing terms you mixed up, such as moment vs momentum, stress vs pressure, or accuracy vs precision. Review it before every mock exam. These small investments turn terminology into a reliable source of marks.

最后，建立个人错题本，记录易混术语，如力矩与动量、应力与压强、准确度与精密度。每次模考前复习这本笔记。这些

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A-Level CAIE Engineering: Key Terminology Quick-Reference Guide | A-Level CAIE 工程：词汇术语速记指南