Computer Systems

Question 1

What are the components of the processor?

Answer 1

• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
• Control Unit
• Registers

Question 2

What does the arithmetic logic unit do?

Answer 2

Carries out mathematical operations and logic operations

Question 3

What does the control unit do?

Answer 3

Controls all the hardware that is part of the computer. Clock line, which is part of the control unit, dictates when the hardware should execute the next instruction

Question 4

What are registers?

Answer 4

Temporary storage locations that the CPU uses to store small pieces of data to be accessed quickly

Question 5

What are the three types of memory?

Answer 5

• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Backing Storage

Question 6

What is random access memory?

Answer 6

Storage component that stores currently used programs/data in unique memory locations

Question 7

What is read only memory?

Answer 7

Storage component that stores important instructions in unique memory locations (e.g: how to turn on, how to display media on the monitor etc.)

Question 8

What is backing storage?

Answer 8

Used to save data when the computer is turned off (e.g: CD, DVD, USB, Hard drive etc.)

Question 9

What are the two bus types?

Answer 9

• Data Bus
• Address Busa

Question 10

What does the data bus do?

Answer 10

Is bidirectional and carries data to and from the processor and main memory.

Question 11

What does the address bus do?

Answer 11

Is unidirectional and carries the address in which the data on the data bus is to be read from or save to from the processor to the main memory

Question 12

What are high level languages?

Answer 12

Human readable instructions that are easy to code and understand

Question 13

What are low level languages?

Answer 13

Machine code - the only instructions that a computer can understand - that is nearly impossible to code or understand

Question 14

What is translation software?

Answer 14

Software to translate high level languages into low level languages so that the computer can understand the program

Question 15

What are the two types of translation software?

Answer 15

• Interpreter
• Compiler

Question 16

What are the advantages of the interpreter?

2

Answer 16

• Quicker to start execution
• Can highlight lines with errors

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of the interpreter?

3

Answer 17

• Takes up more space in memory
• Overall execution time is slow as lines are often translated multiple times if there are loops etc

Question 18

What are the advantages of the compiler?

2

Answer 18

• Execution time is quick because after the translation the code is ready to run
• Original program soure code is not available to view, edit or plagiarise

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of the compiler?

2

Answer 19

• Unable to identify lines where errors occur
• Program should be completed and error-free before it is compiled

Question 20

What is floating point representation?

Answer 20

Used to store decimal numbers in a computer’s memory

Question 21

What is the mantissa?

Answer 21

The numbers that come after the decimal point

Question 22

What is the exponent?

Answer 22

The power of the number that is being multiplied by the decimal

Question 23

How many bits represent characters in ASCII?

Answer 23

7

Question 24

How many bits represent characters in extended ASCII?

Answer 24

8

Question 25

What are characters stored and represented as?

Answer 25

Stored as a binary number and represented as a unique number

Question 26

What are control characters?

Answer 26

Characters that do not print out anything on the screen, but carry out an action (e.g: delete)

Question 27

What are printable characters?

Answer 27

Characters that print onto the screen (e.g: ?)

Question 28

What are bitmapped graphics?

Answer 28

Graphics that are stored as a grid of pixels - each pixel is stored as a binary number that represents its colour

Question 29

What are the advantages of bitmapped graphics? | 1

Answer 29

The file size of a bitmapped graphic doesn't change when you add more graphics to the file

Question 30

What are the disadvantages of bitmapped graphics? | 2

Answer 30

* Bitmapped graphics don't allow layering, meaning if you place a graphic on top of another the bottom graphic is overwritten * They are resolution dependant, so when scaled up they lose their quality and become blurry

Question 31

What are vector graphics?

Answer 31

Graphics that are stored as a set of objects - objects are stored as a set of attributes

Question 32

# Vector graphics: What are the four types of objects?

Answer 32

* Rectangle * Ellipse (circle) * Line * Polygon (shape with multiple sides)

Question 33

# Vector graphics: What are the three common attributes?

Answer 33

* Co-ordinates * Fill Colour * Line Colour

Question 34

What are the advantages of vector graphics? | 2

Answer 34

* Not resolution dependnat, so when scaled up they do not lose their quality * They support layering, so when an object is placed on top of another the bottom one isn't overwritten

Question 35

What are the disadvantages of vector graphics? | 1

Answer 35

The more objects you add to a vector graphic, it will increase the file size and transmission time

Question 36

What is a firewall?

Answer 36

A netwrok security system designed to prevent unauthorised access to or from a private network or computer system

Question 37

How does a firewall work? | 2

Answer 37

* All messages entering or leaving the network / computer pass through the firewall * The firewall examines each messagw and either allows or blocks specific IP addresses or traffic from specific ports

Question 38

What is encryption?

Answer 38

When data is coded or made unreadable to prevent unauthorised usage if accessed by third parties

Question 39

What monitor settings can be adjusted to help the environment? | 3

Answer 39

* Reduce brightness setting * Activate efficiency mode * Use energy efficient monitors

Question 40

What power down settings can be adjusted to help the environment? | 3

Answer 40

* Power down monitor after set period of time * Power down computer system after set period of time * Control settings for individual components

Question 41

What standby settings can be adjusted to help the environment? | 1

Answer 41

Set computer system to be in standy mode, which uses a lot less power