Unit 1 - Basics

Question 1

What is Binary?

Answer 1

Binary is a numbering system. It only includes ones and zeros. It is a Base-2 system

Question 2

Name a Base-2 system

Answer 2

Binary. It is a system where you have a total of two symbols, so it uses a powers of two.

Question 3

What is the difference between a bit and a byte?

Answer 3

A byte consists of eight bits. Bits are the basic blocks of data. For ease of use they are structured in bytes.

Question 4

What is a byte?

Answer 4

Eight bits made up a byte. Bytes can be used to provide 256 different combinations for representing the alphabet, colours, IP addresses, colours etc.

Question 5

What is ASCII?

Answer 5

It is an encoding rule for the alphabet. It contains all used characters plus some commands.

Question 6

What does ASCII stand for?

Answer 6

It stands for American Standard Code for Information Exchange.

Question 7

What is a pixel?

Answer 7

It is a single square which has a colour assigned to it. It’s part of a larger image. Invented in the 1950’s.

Question 8

What is 8-bit colour?

Answer 8

That means you use a byte (8 bits) to differentiate colours, and so there are 256 different possible colours. This is usually a combination of 3 colours, which makes it RGB. 3 x red, 3 x green, 2x blue.

Question 9

What is a CPU?

Answer 9

It stands for Central Processing Unit, it is the brain of the computer and makes calculations and computations.

Question 10

What is RAM?

Answer 10

Random Access Memory, a type of short term memory. This is Volatile memory.

Question 11

What is a Hard Drive?

Answer 11

It is a type of long term memory, this is non-volatile memory meaning the data remains even if there is no power.

Question 12

What is firmware?

Answer 12

A special kind of software installed on a chip. It is the necessary programming required for the hardware to operate.

Question 13

What is the BIOS?

Answer 13

Bios stands for Basic Input Output System. It is a special chip containing the software instructions for a computer. It is used for booting up.

Question 14

What is ROM?

Answer 14

Read Only Memory. It is another word for BIOS.

Question 15

What is an OS?

Answer 15

Operating system. It is the first software loaded into the BIOS, essential for using your computer. It provides interface, hardware controller, and running applications.

Question 16

What software is loaded into RAM first during the boot process?

Answer 16

The Operating System

Question 17

What is the Syntax in a programming language?

Answer 17

It is the grammar. Incorrect grammar means the code won’t run.

Question 18

What are the semantics in a programming language?

Answer 18

It is how to use the syntax (grammar) in order to get the desired effect of your code.

Question 19

What was the first computer?

Answer 19

Turing machines in WWII which decrypted secret messages.

Question 20

Which computers were used between 1940 and 1960?

Answer 20

Behemoths. Mostly used by the government. They consisted of vacuum tubes and wires and took up an entire room. Input were switches, output was lights and punched holes.

Question 21

Which computers were used between 1960 and 1980?

Answer 21

Smaller versions of the previous era’s Behemoths. These used a teletype terminal for output. In the 70’s CRT Monochrome screens were introduced.

Question 22

What computers were used between 1980 and 2000?

Answer 22

GUI-based computers were introduced such as the Commodore 64. Mice were used for input, Mac and PC were introduced.

Question 23

What was a very early portable computer and how much did it weigh?

Answer 23

It was the Osborne, weighing 24 pounds.

Question 24

What type of computing was introduced after the 2000’s?

Answer 24

Miniaturization and portability was introduced. Laptops, tablets, smartphones.