Chapter 2

Question 1

what is hardware

Answer 1

• physical component that forms part of a computer system

- internal/ external

Question 2

role of cpu

Answer 2

• storage/ input device -> input data -> processed by CPU -> stored or sent -> output device
• fetches instruction from memory and executes them

Question 3

motherboard

Answer 3

• hardware components (RAM, CPU) can be connected directly to the motherboard

Question 4

RAM

Answer 4

• volatile (content of memory is lost if no power to the RAM)
• when full, inactive data removed
• when no more to remove, HDD SSD expand memory
• virtual memory slow (access times)
• when several programs open

Question 5

ROM

Answer 5

• nOn volatile (permanent)
• small long life battery
• one program (e.g instruction to boost comp)

Question 6

external hard drive

Answer 6

• common form of secondary storage
• cheap
• non volatile

Question 7

external hard drives

Answer 7

• USB port
• back up
• expensive
• transfer data

Question 8

SSD

Answer 8

• non volatile
• flash memory
• fast
• expensive

Question 9

reasons why a user may want to save data to secondary storage

Answer 9

• make changes to a doc
• keep files for archive for future
• back up
• in a database, each new record saved

Question 10

what is software

Answer 10

• programs that give instructions to the computer
• program consist of programming code that give instructions ,, cary out task
• e.g. word processing

Question 11

what does an operating system do

Answer 11

manages hardware

manages communication between hardware and software

Question 12

how does an OS manage hardware

Answer 12

• allocating memory to software
• sending data and instructions to output devices
• giving each running task a fair share of processor time

Question 13

device driver

Answer 13

• software in external hardware
• sends customized instructions to that specific component
• e.g ‘print’

Question 14

What is application software ?

Answer 14

Application software enables the computer to do a particular task, such as word processing

Question 15

What is system software ?

Answer 15

It is the interface between computer hardware and user application programs

Question 16

What are the three functions of system software ?

Answer 16

• Allocating memory
• Storage
• Processing time

Question 17

Describe how the system software deals with processing time ?

Answer 17

Divides processing time into time slices depend on the priority each task is allocated a number of these time slices

Question 18

What is real time processing and what are some applications ?

Answer 18

• processing of data occurs immediately after it is input and updating occurs before next input occurs
• airline or concert booking systems

Question 19

What is batch processing and what are some applications ?

Answer 19

• data is collected over a period of time and processed together at a later time
• billing systems, banking systems

Question 20

What is multi-user system processing and what are some applications ?

Answer 20

• The operating system switches between computers giving each one a ‘time slice’
• database management systems

Question 21

What is a utility application ?

Answer 21

It is a program that carries out a specific task to assist the operating system

Question 22

Name three utility applications

Answer 22

• Disc defragmentation
• task scheduling
• data backup and restore

Question 23

Describe disc defragmentation

Answer 23

rearranges the data on a hard disk so that all the data is stored together and can be quicker to access

Question 24

Describe a backup

Answer 24

A second copy of a file made and stored on a different storage device

Question 25

What is an anti virus software ?

Answer 25

Scans files stored on a computer system, looking for viruses

Question 26

What is the anti-virus software main purpose

Answer 26

detect, locate and remove a virus

Question 27

What is the main role of the CPU ?

Answer 27

To process programs and data

Question 28

What does the CU do ?

Answer 28

- decides which instruction to carry out next - fetches it from memory - repeats the fetch-execute cycle

Question 29

What does the ALU do ? (arithmetic logic unit)

Answer 29

- carries out maths equations

Question 30

What are the 5 registers of the CPU ?

Answer 30

- program counter - memory address register - memory data register - instruction register - accumulator

Question 31

What does clock speed mean ?

Answer 31

The number of instructions the CPU can deal with per second

Question 32

What does the cache do ?

Answer 32

temporarily stores frequently used instructions and data

Question 33

What is a processor core ?

Answer 33

A core is a single processor

Question 34

Name 5 computer hardware devices :

Answer 34

- graphics digitizer - speaker - mouse - 3D printer - Hard disk drive

Question 35

What is the purpose of a graphics digitizer ?

Answer 35

allows a user to hand draw images. Consists of a flat pad and a stylus

Question 36

Describe how HD storage media works

Answer 36

uses laser technology to store and retrieve data at high data transfer speed to and from optical disks.

Question 37

Describe the features of SSD storage:

Answer 37

- It's flash memory - usb memory sticks are a type of SSD - plug and play devices