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Grade 10 & 11 Computer Science > Chapter 3 Definitions > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

Define CPU

A

Central Processing Unit
Responsible for the execution or processing of all the instructions and data in a computer

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2
Q

Define integrated circuit

A

A chip made from a semiconductor material which carries out the same tasks as a larger circuit made from individual components

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3
Q

Define von Neunmann architecture

A

A type of computer architecture which introduced the concept of the stored program in the 1940s

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4
Q

Define ALU

A

Arithmetic and Logic Unit
The component of the CPU that carries out all arithmetic and logical operations

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5
Q

Define ACC

A

Accumulator Register
Temporary general-purpose register that stores numerical values at any part of a given operation

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6
Q

Define MAR

A

Memory Address Register
A register that stores the address of the memory location currently being read from or written to

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7
Q

Define CIR

A

Current Instruction Register
Register that stores the current instruction being decoded and executed

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8
Q

Define MDR

A

Memory Data Register
A register that stores data that has just been read from memory or data that is about to be written to memory

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9
Q

Define PC

A

Program Counter
A register that stores the address where the next instruction to be read can be found

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10
Q

Define control unit

A

The component of a computer’s CPU that ensures synchronisation of data flow and programs throughout the computer by sending out control signals along the control bus

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11
Q

Define system clock

A

Produces timing signals on the control bus to ensure synchronisation takes place

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12
Q

Define clock cycle

A

Measured in terms of GHz; this is the vibrational frequency of the system clock which sends out pulses along the control bus

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13
Q

Define IAS

A

Memory that holds all data and programs needed to be accessed by the control unit

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14
Q

Define backing store

A

A secondary storage device used to store data permanently even when the computer is powered down

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15
Q

Define cache

A

Temporary memory using static RAM to hold frequently used data/instructions by the CPU thereby increasing CPU performance.
Any area of storage used to quickly access frequently-used data

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16
Q

Define register

A

Temporary component in the CPU which can be general or specific in its use; it holds data or instructions as part of the Fetch–Decode–Execute cycle

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17
Q

Define address

A

A label for a memory location used by the CPU to track data

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18
Q

Define memory location

A

A numbered place in memory where values can be stored

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19
Q

Define system buses

A

A connection between major components in a computer that can carry data, addresses or control signals

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20
Q

Define address bus

A

The system bus that carries the addresses throughout the computer system

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21
Q

Define data bus

A

The system bus that allows data to be carried from CPU to memory (and vice versa) or to and from input/output devices

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22
Q

Define control bus

A

The system bus that carries signals from control unit to all other computer components

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23
Q

Define unidirectional

A

Can travel in one direction only; used to describe data

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24
Q

Define bidirectional

A

Can travel in both directions; used to describe data

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25
Q

Define word

A

A group of bits used by a computer to represent a single unit

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26
Q

Define overclocking

A

Changing the clock speed of a system clock to a value higher than the factory/recommended setting

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27
Q

Define core

A

A unit on a CPU made up of an ALU, control unit and registers; a CPU may contain a number of cores

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28
Q

Define Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

A

Cycle in which instructions and data are fetched from memory, decoded and finally executed

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29
Q

Define Basic input/output System (BIOS)

A

A suite of programs on firmware that are used to perform the initialisation of a computer system during the boot-up process

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30
Q

Define opcode

A

Part of a machine code instruction that identifies what action the CPU has to perform

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31
Q

Define operand

A

Part of a machine code instruction that identifies what data is to be used

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32
Q

Define instruction set

A

The complete set of machine code instructions used a particular microprocessor

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33
Q

Define embedded system

A

Combination of hardware and software designed to carry out a specific set of functions

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34
Q

Define barcode

A

A series of dark and light lines of varying thickness used to represent data; the code has to be scanned using laser or LED light source

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35
Q

Define key field

A

The field that uniquely identifies a record in a file

36
Q

Define QR code

A

Quick Response Code - a matrix of dark and light
squares which represent data; the pattern can be read and
interpreted

37
Q

Define frame QR code

A

A type of QR code that includes a space for advertising

38
Q

Define DAC

A

Digital to analogue converter - device that converts digital data into electric currents that can drive motors, actuators and relays

39
Q

Define ADC

A

Analogue to digital converter - device that converts
analogue data into a form understood by a computer

40
Q

Define CCD

A

Charge couple device - a light sensitive cell made up of millions of tiny sensors acting as photodiodes

41
Q

Define virtual keyboard

A

An onscreen keyboard which uses the features of the touch screen to emulate a physical keyboard

42
Q

Define touch screen

A

A screen that allows the user to select or manipulate a screen image using the touch of a finger or stylus; touch screens most frequently use capacitive, infrared or resistive technology

43
Q

Define RSI

A

Repetitive strain injury - Pain felt in the muscles,
nerves and tendons caused by a repetitive action

44
Q

Define optical mouse

A

A pointing device that uses a red LED to track the movement of the device and then relays its coordinates to a computer

45
Q

Define pointing device

A

An input device that allows the user to control the movement of an onscreen cursor or to allow onscreen selection by clicking a button on the device

46
Q

Define CMOS

A

Complementary metal oxide semi-conductor - a chip that generates an electric current (or pulses) when light falls on its surface

47
Q

Define DSP

A

Digital signal processor - A processor that calculates, for example, the coordinates of a pointing device based on the pulses of electricity received

48
Q

Define optical character recognition

A

Technology that can convert hard copy text or images into a digital format to be stored in a computer memory

49
Q

Define CAD

A

Computer sided design - software used to create drawings

50
Q

Define CT scanner

A

Computed tomographic scanner - technology that can create a 3D image of a solid object by slicing up the object into thin layers (tomography)

51
Q

Define capacitive touch screen

A

Type of touch screen that uses the change in the screen’s capacitance
when it is touched by a finger or stylus

52
Q

Define infra-red touch screen

A

A type of touch screen that uses infra-red beams and sensors to detect where the screen has been touched

53
Q

Define resistive touch screen

A

Type of touch screen that uses two conductive layers which make contact where the screen has been touched

54
Q

Define actuator

A

An output device that converts electrical energy into mechanical movement

55
Q

Define DMD

A

Digital micromirror device - A chip that uses millions of tiny mirrors on its surface to create a video display

56
Q

Define thermal bubble

A

Inkjet printer technology whereby tiny resistors create heat and form an ink bubble which is ejected onto paper in an inkjet printer

57
Q

Define piezoelectric crystal

A

A crystal located in an ink reservoir within an inkjet printer; the crystal vibrates and forces ink out onto paper

58
Q

Define direct 3D printing

A

A 3D printing technique in which the print head moves in the x, y and z directions

59
Q

Define binder 3D printing

A

A 3D printing method that uses a twostage pass; the first stage uses dry powder and second stage uses a binding agent

60
Q

Define cathode

A

A negative electrode

61
Q

Define anode

A

A positive electrode

62
Q

Define OLED

A

Organic LED - light-emitting diode that uses the movement of electrons between a cathode and an anode to produce an on-screen image; it generates its own light so no backlighting is required

63
Q

Define loudspeaker

A

An output device that converts electric current into sound

64
Q

Define memory

A

The devices within the computer that are directly accessible by the CPU; there are two types of memory – RAM and ROM; memory is different to hard disk drives, for example, which are known as storage devices

65
Q

Define RAM

A

Random Access Memory - primary memory that can be written to or read from

66
Q

Define ROM

A

Read-only Memory - primary memory that cannot be written to (changed) and can only be read

67
Q

Define DRAM

A

Dynamic RAM - a type of RAM chip that needs to be
constantly refreshed

68
Q

Define SRAM

A

Static RAM - a type of RAM chip that uses flip flops and doesn’t need to be constantly refreshed

69
Q

Define volatile

A

Describes memory that loses its contents when the power is turned off

70
Q

Define refresh

A

Recharge every few seconds in order to maintain charge; for example with a device such as a capacitor

71
Q

Define flip flop

A

Electronic circuit with only two stable conditions

72
Q

Define latency

A

The lag in a system; for example, the time it takes to find a track on a hard disk, which depends on the time it takes for the disk to rotate around to its read-write head

73
Q

Define SSD endurance

A

The total guaranteed number of times data can be written to or read from a solid state drive (SSD) in its usable life cycle

74
Q

Define optical storage

A

A type of storage that uses laser light to read and write data, and includes CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs

75
Q

Define dual layering

A

Using two recording layers in storage media such as DVDs and some Blu-rays

76
Q

Define virtual memory

A

A memory management system that makes use of secondary storage and software to enable a computer to compensate for the shortage of actual physical RAM memory

77
Q

Define disk thrashing

A

A problem in a HDD caused by excessive swapping in and out of data
causing a high rate of head movements during virtual memory operations

78
Q

Define thrash point

A

The point at which the execution of a program comes to a halt because the system is so busy moving data in and out of memory rather than actually executing the program

79
Q

Define data redundancy

A

The unnecessary storing of the same data on several storage devices at the same time

80
Q

Define cloud storage

A

A method of data storage where data is stored on offsite servers; the physical storage may be on hundreds of servers in many locations

81
Q

Define NIC

A

Network interface card - a hardware component that is required to allow a device to connect to a network, such as the internet

82
Q

Define router

A

A device that enables data packets to be moved between different networks

83
Q

Define static IP address

A

An IP address that doesn’t change

84
Q

Define MAC address

A

A unique identifier which acts as a network address for a device; it takes the form NN-NN-NN-DD-DD-DD, where NN is the manufacturer code and DD is the device code

85
Q

Define dynamic IP address

A

A temporary IP address assigned to a device each time it logs onto a network

86
Q

Define dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)

A

A server that automatically provides and assigns an IP address

Grade 10 & 11 Computer Science (45 decks)

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