Chapter 3

Question 1

Control Unit

Answer 1

manages the flow of instructions within the processor

Question 2

Arithmetic logic unit

Answer 2

performs arithmetic operations

Question 3

Machine cycle

Answer 3

Fetching, Decoding, Executing, and Storing; the control unit do the fetching and decoding, the ALU does the executing and storing.

Question 4

Random Access Memory

Answer 4

Temporarily stores data needed by the operating system and apps you use; located in a chip on the motherboard. When you start an app on your computer, the app’s instructions are transferred from the hard drive to the RAM.

Question 5

BIOS

Answer 5

Basic Input and Output System, the program your computer uses to start the computer’s system when it is powered on.

Question 6

Read only memory

Answer 6

contains the BIOS, provides a means of communication between the operating system and hardware devices.

Question 7

Firware

Answer 7

instructions on the ROM chip

Question 8

Virtual memory

Answer 8

when computer swaps RAM’s contents to and from the hard drive

Question 9

Swap file

Answer 9

The area of a hard drive temporarily used to store data that cannot fit in the RAM.

Question 10

Uninterruptable power supply

Answer 10

short term batter backup that comes on automatically in case of power loss

Question 11

Surge suppressor

Answer 11

device that prevents power fluctuations from damaging electronic components.

Question 12

Video card

Answer 12

an expansion card that allows the computer to send graphical information to a video display device.

Question 13

Looking for a computer

Answer 13

Look at cpu processor and RAM, video card, GPU, storage

Question 14

F5

Answer 14

Helps reload a page

Question 15

Types of pointers

Answer 15

Mouse, touchpad, stylus, trackball

Question 16

Hard disk

Answer 16

platters spin on a spindle covered with a thin layer of metal that can be magnetized or demagnetized

Question 17

Solid State disk

Answer 17

stored on integrated circuits, no moving parts

Question 18

Flash

Answer 18

is a form of non-volatile high speed read and write media that holds digital data.

Question 19

Computer not starting

Answer 19

video card failure due to overheating

Question 20

Bit

Answer 20

0 or 1

Question 21

Byte

Answer 21

8 bits

Question 22

A computer searches for memory:

Answer 22

first through cache then through RAM

Question 23

DRAM

Answer 23

dynamic RAM, memory needs to be constantly recharged or contents will be erased

Question 24

Static RAM

Answer 24

Memory can be recharged less frequently than DRAM, but can be more expensive than DRAM

Question 25

MRAM

Answer 25

Memory uses magnetic charges to store contents and can retain its contents in the absence of power

Question 26

Flash memory

Answer 26

can retain its contents in the absence of power, less expensive