Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

.Computer Science > Chapter 3 - Hardware > Flashcards

Chapter 3 - Hardware Flashcards

(78 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the Internet of Things?

A

The connection of computer systems and everyday devices, using the internet, to allow data to be exchanged.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a central processing unit (CPU)?

A

A component in a computer system that processes data and instructions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a microprocessor?

A

An integrated circuit that is able to perform many of the functions of a CPU.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is an embedded system?

A

A computer system that performs a dedicated function.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the fetch-execute cycle?

A

The cycle through which data and instructions are processed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is computer architecture?

A

The design of a computer system, including the components it contains.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is an input device?

A

A device that allows data to be entered into a computer system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the random access memory (RAM)?

A

A component in the CPU that holds data and programs that are currently in use.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a hard drive?

A

A storage device that stores data permanently, until it is deleted by the user.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the program counter (PC)?

A

A component in the CPU that stores the address of the next instruction to be processed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is an address?

A

A memory location in RAM.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the memory address register (MAR)?

A

A component in the CPU that holds the address of the data or instruction to be located in RAM.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an address bus?

A

Wires used for the transmission of addresses between components in a computer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the memory data register (MDR)?

A

A component in the CPU that holds the data or instruction that are fetched from RAM.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the data bus?

A

Wires used for the transmission of data and instructions between components in a computer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the current instruction register (CIR)?

A

A register that is built into the CU that holds the current instruction that is being processed in the CPU.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the control unit (CU)?

A

The component in the CPU that controls all the operations in the CPU.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the fetch stage of the fetch-execute cycle.

A
  1. The PC stores the address for the next instruction and sends it to the MAR using the address bus
  2. The MAR sends the address to the RAM using the address bus to retrieve the instruction/data
  3. The RAM sends the data to the MDR using the data bus
  4. The MDR sends the data to the CIR inside the CU using the data bus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the instruction set?

A

A set of commands that can be processed by a certain CPU.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How are the instruction set commands written?

A

In machine code.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe the decode stage of the fetch-execute cycle.

A

Once the instruction is received by the CU (the unit in the CPU), it decodes it using an instruction set so the CPU can understand what is required to execute the instruction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the arithmetic logic unit (ALU)?

A

The component in the CPU that performs all the mathematical and logical operations required when processing data and instructions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the accumulator (ACC)?

A

A register that is built into the ALU that stores the result of any interim calculations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the control bus?

A

Wires used for the transmissions of control signals between components in a computer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Describe the execute stage of the fetch-execute cycle.
1. Stage where actions required for the instruction are executed 2. If mathematical and logical calculations are involved, data is sent to the ALU 3. The ALU performs these calculations with the help of the ACC 4. Once the calculations are complete, the instruction can be performed
26
How do the different components know what to do in the fetch-execute cycle?
The CU sends signals using the control bus to all the components within the CPU to tell them when they need to perform their different roles.
27
What is a core?
The part of the CPU that contains all the components that are used to perform the fetch-execute cycle.
28
What is the clock speed?
The number of fetch-execute cycles that can be performed in a second.
29
What is the cache?
A type of storage that is built into the CPU to store the most frequently used data and instructions.
30
What is the measurement for clock speed?
Hertz.
31
What are input devices?
A device that allows data to be entered into a computer system.
32
What are output devices?
A device that can be used to obtain the results of data that has been processed.
33
What are some examples of input devices (8)?
- Barcode/QR code scanner - Digital camera - Keyboard - Microphone - Optical mouse - Scanner (2D and 3D) - Touch screen (resistive, capacitive and infra-red) - Sensor
34
What are some examples of output devices (5)?
- Actuator - DLP/LCD projector - Inkjet/laser/3D printer - LED/LCD screen - Speaker
35
What is a sensor?
A type of input device that is used to capture data from its immediate environment.
36
What is an automated system?
A system that is designed to operate without the need for any human intervention.
37
What type of data does a sensor capture from its immediate surroundings?
Analogue data.
38
Name the different types of sensors, the data they capture and an example for their use.
Check book page 64-65.
39
What is primary storage?
A type of storage that is directly accessed by the CPU.
40
What is secondary storage?
A type of storage that is designed to store data permanently, until it is deleted by the user.
41
What is read only memory (ROM)?
A type of primary storage that stores the start up instruction for the computer.
42
What are the 2 main types of primary storage?
1. RAM 2. ROM
43
What are the characteristics of RAM?
- Volatile - Stores data and programs currently in use by computer - Contents constantly being changed as data is processed by CPU - Possible to increase amount of RAM
44
What are the characteristics of ROM?
- Non-volatile - Stores programs that initially boot the computer (e.g. bootstrap, BIOS) - Contents are fixed (unless reprogrammed - complex and rare situation when computer system fails to boot) - Not easy to alter ROM available
45
What is magnetic storage?
A type of secondary storage that uses the properties of magnetism to store data.
46
What is optical storage?
A type of secondary storage that uses lasers to store data.
47
What is solid-state storage?
A type of secondary storage that uses transistors to store data.
48
What are the 3 main types of secondary storage?
1. Magnetic 2. Optical 3. Solid-state
49
What are the characteristics of magnetic storage?
- Has platters separated into tracks and sectors (circular plates that spin to allow data to be read and written) - Has a read-write head that moves across platters to read/write data - Uses electromagnets
50
What is an example of magnetic storage?
A hard disk drive.
51
What are the characteristics of optical storage?
- Uses lasers to read and write data - Circular disk that spins - Has a read-write head that moves across surface to allow to read/write data - Pits burnt into surface of disk, organised in spiral track that starts at centre of disk
52
What is the surface of a disk between each pit called?
A land.
53
What are some examples of optical storage?
- CD - DVD - Blu-ray
54
What are the characteristics of solid-state storage?
- No moving parts - Made up of semiconductor chips - Contains cells and transistors laid out in a grid - Wired in an NOR or NAND flash structure
55
What are semiconductor chips?
An electronic circuit where transistors are set on a semiconductor material (e.g. silicon).
56
What is a cell?
The intersection of the rows and columns of transistors in solid-state storage.
57
What is a transistor?
A device that acts as a switch or gate for electronic signals.
58
What is a control gate?
A component that controls the flow of electric current.
59
What is a floating gate?
A component that can store electrical charge.
60
What is virtual memory?
A type of memory that can be used as an extension to the RAM.
61
What is a page?
A unit of data.
62
What happens when the RAM gets full?
The computer system can transfer data that isn't as immediately required to virtual memory to be held there. Once the immediate data is processed, the pages of data stored in the virtual memory are sent back to the RAM.
63
What happens when the RAM gets full and does not have the ability to transfer pages of data to virtual memory?
The computer will either crash or not be able to complete the task it is working on.
64
What is cloud storage?
Data storage that is owned by a third party and accessed by the user using the internet.
65
What is a server?
A component that acts as a central resource for the storage of data and applications or for providing a service.
66
What are the advantages and disadvantages of cloud storage?
Advantages: - No need to purchase hardware - No responsibility for security of hardware - Can increase or decrease storage space easily whenever needed - Access data and resources using different devices Disadvantages: - Requires internet (inaccessible without internet or slow to access if connection is slow) - Rely on third party which could put your data at risk if not done properly
67
What are the advantages and disadvantages of local storage?
Advantages: - No internet connection needed Disadvantages: - Purchase of hardware required (expensive) - Need to maintain hardware and regularly check and update it for security issues - Might have redundant hardware if amount of data needed to be stored is reduced in the future
68
What is a network?
Computers and devices that are joined together using cables or wireless technology.
69
What is a network interface card (NIC)?
The component in a computer that is used to connect it to a network.
70
What is a router?
A network component that examines a data packet to obtain its destination address and then forwards the packet to this address.
71
What is transmission media?
The cables that are used to transfer data in a network.
72
What is a media access control (MAC) address?
The unique address that is give to a NIC by the manufacturer.
73
What are the characteristics of a MAC address?
- Assigned to device by manufacturer - Made up of two parts: Manufacturers ID code and Serial ID code - Represented in hexadecimal - Separated with dashs/colons - Has 6 pairs of numbers
74
What is a data packet?
A unit of data that is used to transmit data across a network.
75
What are the characteristics of an IPv4 address?
- Assigned by network - 32-bits - Separated by full stops
76
What are the characteristics of an IPv6 address?
- Assigned by network - 128-bits - Can contain hexadecimal characters - Separated by colons
77
What is a static IP?
An IP address that does not change each time the device connects to a network.
78
What is a dynamic IP?
An IP address that can change each time the device connects to a network.

.Computer Science (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions