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National 5 Computing Science > Computer Systems > Flashcards

Computer Systems Flashcards

(59 cards)

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1
Q

What do computers use to store data?

A

Binary

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2
Q

What is the binary value of 123?

A

01111011

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3
Q

What is the Denary value of 10101001?

A

169

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4
Q

What is a floating point?

A

A floating-point number is made of two parts called the Mantissa and Exponent.

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5
Q

How are real numbers stored on a computer?

A

By the Mantissa and the Exponent.

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6
Q

What is the mantissa?

A

The Mantissa is the “number” part of the scientific notation.

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7
Q

What is the Exponent?

A

The Exponent is the “power” of the scientific notation.

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8
Q

What is the name of the method of storing real numbers on a computer?

A

Floating Point Representation.

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9
Q

What is the name given to the binary code for all characters?

A

ASCII

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10
Q

What does ASCII stand for?

A

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

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11
Q

What is the limit of ASCII?

A

256

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12
Q

What is the name of the total number of pixels in a bit-mapped image?

A

Resolution

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13
Q

What is the name of the total number of colours used in a a bit-mapped image?

A

Bit Depth

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14
Q

What is bit depth?

A

The number of bits used to store each pixel in an image.

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15
Q

Bit-Mapped images are one type of graphic. What is the other type of graphic?

A

Vector Graphic

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16
Q

How are Vector Graphics stored?

A

By it’s attributes

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17
Q

What are some examples of attributes of vector graphics?

A
  • Line colour
  • Fill colour
  • Coordinates
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18
Q

What are the types of vector objects?

A
  • Rectangle
  • Line
  • Ellipse
  • Polygon
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19
Q

What is the definition of fill colour?

A

Fill Colour is the colour used to fill the inside of a vector graphic.

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20
Q

What is the definition of line colour?

A

Line Colour is the colour used on the rim of the vector graphic.

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21
Q

Advantages of vector graphics?

A
  • Smaller file size - do not store data about each individual pixel. For a large illustration, such as a poster, a vector graphic would have a significantly smaller file size compared to a bitmap image.
  • Scalable - when you resize a vector graphic the mathematical relationships mean that the image does not lose quality. A vector graphic the size of a postage stamp could be resized to be used on a poster and the image would still be clear.
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22
Q

Disadvantages of vector graphics?

A

Vector graphics are never going to be as lifelike as bitmaps or photos. They will always appear computer generated.

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23
Q

What is a bitmap?

A

A bitmap is a grid of pixels. Each pixel has a colour associated with it.

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24
Q

Advantages of bitmaps?

Study These Flashcards
A

They can capture real-life images such as photos.

25
What is a vector graphic?
In a vector, the image is made up of shapes called objects. Each object has a list of attributes.
26
What is a pixel
An individual square in a bitmap image.
27
What does CPU stand for?
Central Processing Unit
28
What does a CPU do?
- Fetch, decode and execute information from the RAM - Perform arithmetic calculation - Perform logical operations - Control read, write, clock, interrupt and reset lines
29
What are the three components of a CPU?
- ALU - Registers - Control Unit
30
What does ALU stand for?
Arithmetic Logic Unit
31
What does an ALU do in the CPU?
- Performs all calculations - Performs comparisons on numeric values - Makes decisions based on logic (AND, OR, NOT)
32
What do the Registers do in the CPU?
- Fast temporary storage locations within the processor - Stores addresses, data, or instructions being used by the CPU
33
What does the Control Unit do in the CPU?
- Runs the flow of data around the computer - Uses a clock to synchronise events - Has a reset line to reset the contents of the registers - Has an interrupt line which is used to signal that there is an event needing attention
34
What does the Clock Speed tell us about the CPU?
The Clock Speed is a measure of how quickly a CPU can handle and complete tasks. It is measured in Hertz (Hz).
35
What does RAM stand for?
Random Access Memory
36
What is the RAM?
The RAM is a temporary storage location for data until it is needed by the CPU.
37
What happens to RAM when a program is closed?
Data held in RAM is deleted.
38
What are the names of the two buses?
Data Bus and Address Bus
39
What does the Data Bus do?
- Carries data from memory to be used and stored by the processor - It is bi-directional because data can travel both ways
40
What does the Address Bus do?
- Tells memory which memory location is being read from - Tells memory which memory location is being written to - Is uni-directional (or one-way) because the address always goes from the processor to the memory
41
What are the two types of translators?
Interpreters and Compilers
42
What do Interpreters do?
An interpreter translates source code into machine code one line at a time.
43
Advantages of Interpreters?
- Errors are notified after each line has been interpreted making debugging easier - You can run your code without it being finished
44
Disadvantages of Interpreters?
- Statements in a loop are translated repeatedly - Code has to be translated each time it is run
45
What do Compilers do?
A compiler translates the entire source code program to object code in one go.
46
Advantages of Compilers?
- Code only has to be translated once - Users don't need to have the translator program running
47
Disadvantages of Compilers?
- Users have to re-translate the whole program if they want to make a change - All errors are reported after the compilation
47
What are the three main ways to reduce the amount of energy used by our computers?
- Monitor Settings - Power down settings - Standby
48
What are the settings that we can alter via the monitor which allow us to save energy?
- Reduce brightness - Not using a screensaver - Using efficiency mode, if it is a feature - Using energy-efficient monitors
49
What is Standby mode another name for?
Sleep Mode
50
What happens when a computer goes into standby mode?
- RAM continues to be powered - Software in use is temporarily stored until the user resumes work - Power to other components is significantly reduced
51
What is the other kind of power saving mode?
Hibernate Mode
52
What happens when Hibernate Mode is activated?
- Contents of RAM are copied onto the hard disk - Hard Disk saves a permanent copy - Almost all components are completely turned off or are on very low power
53
Why do some people argue that using standby and hibernate modes is better than shutting the computer down?
Because starting up a computer after shutdown causes a surge in power to components.
54
What is data usually split into before it is sent across a network?
Packets eg. an image file is not sent as one single file but instead a separate packets which are used to assemble an image file once they are received.
55
What do firewalls do?
- Ensure that data packets meet specific criteria before entering a network - Deny unauthorised access
56
What are firewall rules made from?
- Port Number - Protocols - Sender IP address - Receiver IP address
57
What is encryption?
Encryption is the method of scrambling data up in order to stop any unauthorised person(s) from reading it.
58
When using encryption, what is it pivotal to ensure?
Make sure that the sender and receiver of the encrypted data are following the same code or key.

National 5 Computing Science (4 decks)

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