Safety-critical system

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/safety-critical-system

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core engineering disciplines?Safety engineering, risk management, formal methods, and rigorous testing are central
2. What is the key design principles?Redundancy, diversity, fail-safe design, and comprehensive verification and validation
3. What is a safety‑critical system?A safety‑critical system is a machine or computer that must work perfectly because if it fails, it could hurt people, damage property, or harm the environment.
4. Why do safety‑critical systems need to be super reliable?Because even a small mistake can cause serious injuries or big accidents, so engineers make them almost impossible to fail.

Safety-Critical System: A system whose failure or malfunction poses a significant risk to human life, health, property, or the environment.
Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA): A systematic methodology to quantify the probability and consequences of potential system failures.
Swiss Cheese Model: A conceptual model illustrating how multiple layers of defense must fail sequentially for an accident to occur.