computer science p1 Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the key components of a CPU?
Registers, ALU, Control Unit, Cache. Registers store data temporarily, ALU performs calculations, the control unit directs operations, and cache speeds up data access.
What factors affect CPU performance?
Clock speed, number of cores, cache size. Higher clock speed means faster processing, multiple cores enable parallel execution, and larger cache reduces memory bottlenecks.
What are primary, secondary, and tertiary storage devices?
Primary storage is volatile (RAM, cache), Secondary storage is non-volatile (SSD, HDD), and Tertiary storage is for backups (optical disks, tapes).
Compare solid-state drives (SSD) and hard disk drives (HDD).
SSDs use flash memory, offer faster read/write speeds, and are more durable. HDDs use magnetic storage, are cheaper per GB, but are slower.
What are the types of software?
System software (operating system, utilities), Application software (word processor, games), and Development software (compilers, IDEs).
What is the waterfall model?
A linear software development method with stages: Requirements → Design → Implementation → Testing → Deployment.
What is the difference between lossless and lossy compression?
Lossless preserves original data (PNG, ZIP). Lossy removes redundant data for smaller size (JPEG, MP3).
What is a database schema?
The structure of a database, including tables, fields, relationships, ensuring data consistency.
What are the main data types?
Integer, Float, Boolean, String, Character. Integers are whole numbers, floats are decimal numbers, Boolean represents True/False, strings store text.
What is the difference between an array and a linked list?
Array: fixed size, direct indexing. Linked list: dynamic size, uses pointers for element connections.
What does the Data Protection Act regulate?
Ensures personal data privacy, controlling how data is stored, processed, and shared.
What is ethical hacking?
Legitimate hacking performed to identify security flaws, differs from cybercriminal hacking.
What are the key concepts of computational thinking?
Abstraction (simplifying complex problems), Decomposition (breaking tasks into parts), Pattern recognition (finding similarities in problems).
What is debugging?
The process of finding and fixing errors in code using techniques like print statements, breakpoints, testing.
What is the difference between binary search and linear search?
Binary search is faster on sorted lists, halves the search space each step. Linear search scans each element sequentially.
What are the main components of the CPU?
Control Unit, Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Registers, Cache, and Clock—together, they process instructions.
What is the purpose of the fetch-decode-execute cycle?
The cycle used by the CPU to process instructions: 1️⃣ Fetch: Retrieve instruction from memory 2️⃣ Decode: Translate it into an operation 3️⃣ Execute: Perform the operation.
What is the difference between RAM and ROM?
RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile and stores temporary data. ROM (Read-Only Memory) is non-volatile and stores essential startup instructions.
What are the differences between HDD and SSD?
✅ HDD (Hard Disk Drive): Uses spinning disks, slower, cheaper, more storage. ✅ SSD (Solid State Drive): Uses flash memory, faster, more durable, expensive.
What is the difference between LAN and WAN?
LAN (Local Area Network): Covers small areas like homes or offices. WAN (Wide Area Network): Covers large areas like cities, countries, the internet.
What does TCP/IP stand for?
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol—it ensures communication across networks.
Name three types of malware.
🦠 Virus – attaches to files and spreads. 🕷️ Trojan – disguises itself as normal software. 📝 Ransomware – locks data until payment is made.
How does a firewall protect a computer?
Blocks unauthorized network access, filters traffic, and prevents hacking attempts.
What is an operating system?
A system that manages hardware & software, including:
* File management
* Process management
* User interface
* Memory management.
