Pneumatics

S3 Engineering Science, Booklet 6

Ten lessons. Meet the parts, simulate and build, find out, then why. Everything you write goes in the booklet.

The booklet

Booklet 6 Notes and review questions for every lesson, with a knowledge organiser. PDF. Booklet 6 with answers The same booklet with every answer filled in. PDF.

Lessons

Each lesson's slides, with and without answers

1 · Single-Acting Cylinder Use air safely, then build and explain a single-acting cylinder circuit. 2 · Actuators and Valves Build a lever-actuated valve circuit, read the valve symbol and draw it full size. 3 · Uni-directional Restrictor Build a circuit that slows the rod, and explain how a uni-directional restrictor does it. 4 · Double-Acting Cylinder Use a double-acting cylinder, build it, and find out what pushes the rod back. 5 · Fault-Finding Find a fault safely by checking in order, then describe it. 6 · Force, Pressure and Area Use pressure, force and area to work out what a cylinder can do. 7 · OR Control Build an OR circuit and explain how the shuttle valve lets either button work the cylinder. 8 · AND Control Build an AND circuit, explain where the air stops, and choose OR or AND for a job. 9 · Design and Evaluation Design, simulate, build and test a circuit for a brief, then evaluate it. 10 · Review Get ready for the test by remembering every lesson.

Parts

Pneumatic components Each part: its symbol, the kit and key words.

Archive

The first version of this topic

1 · Safety first and last The safety rules, then the ticket gate. 2 · Reading the diagram Build the lever gate. Then draw it. Booklet 6A The first version's booklet. PDF.

Back to S3 Engineering Science

Sources & credits: lessons and booklet by R Stewart. Exam items © Qualifications Scotland (SQA), named in the booklet. Circuits adapted from the Matrix CP2080 Pneumatics Essentials worksheets (© Matrix Technology Solutions Limited). Full site credits are on the credits page. R Stewart - October 2026