CompSci Autumn 2022/23 Modern Computers

Question 1

1.1 Euclid

Answer 1

Mathematician who lived around 300 BC. Invented algorithms.

Question 2

1.2 Algorithm

Answer 2

A sequence of instructions that can be followed to complete a specific task

Question 3

1.3 Pingala

Answer 3

Mathematician who lived around 200 BC. Invented the binary number system.

Question 4

1.4 Binary numbers

Answer 4

Numbers which consist of only 1s and 0s. Known as base-2 as there are only 2 different digits.

Question 5

1.5 Converting Binary to Decimal

Answer 5

1.Fill the top row (right to left, starting at 1 and doubling each time you move left) 2.Fill the binary number in underneath 3.Add any columns that contain a 1.

Question 6

1.6 Converting Decimal to Binary

Answer 6

1.Fill the top row (right to left, starting at 1 and doubling each time you move left) 2.Starting from the left, add the numbers to reach the decimal number. 3.Place a 1 in any columns that are needed.

Question 7

1.7 Bitmap Images

Answer 7

A bitmap is a grid of binary data representing the values of pixels in an image

Question 8

1.8 Pixels

Answer 8

Bitmap images are made up of many single points of colour. These are called pixels (short for picture elements).

Question 9

1.9 Resolution

Answer 9

The total pixels in an image which is expressed as a calculation of the pixels as width x height.

Question 10

2.1 Bit (b)

Answer 10

A binary digit. The smallest digit in the binary system. 0 or 1.

Question 11

2.2 Byte (B)

Answer 11

Eight bits. Example: 01011011

Question 12

2.3 Kilobyte (kB)

Answer 12

1000 bytes

Question 13

2.4 Megabyte (MB)

Answer 13

1000 kilobytes

Question 14

2.5 Gigabyte (GB)

Answer 14

1000 megabytes

Question 15

2.6 Terabyte (TB)

Answer 15

1000 gigabytes

Question 16

2.7 Secondary Storage

Answer 16

Holds programs and data, even when the computer is switched off. All data is stored physically as binary.

Question 17

3.1 Charles Babbage

Answer 17

Mathematician who lived in the 1800s. Created mechanical computers for solving mathematical problems more quickly.

Question 18

3.2 Ada Lovelace

Answer 18

Mathematician who lived in the 1800s. Realised machines could do more than maths, and wrote the first computer program for one of Babbage’s machines before it was built.

Question 19

3.3 Hardware

Answer 19

Physical parts of the computer, both internal and external.

Question 20

3.4 Software

Answer 20

Programs - instructions and data which run on a computer system.

Question 21

3.5 George Boole

Answer 21

Mathematician who lived in the 1800s. Created Boolean Logic

Question 22

3.6 Boolean Logic

Answer 22

AND, OR, NOT gates used to direct electricity around a circuit

Question 23

3.7 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer 23

Executes programs – performs mathematical calculations and comparisons.

Question 24

3.8 Alan Turing

Answer 24

Mathematician who lived in the mid-1900s. Invented the Turing machine, which is what modern computers are based on.

Question 25

3.9 Random Access Memory (RAM)

Answer 25

Required to allow multiple programs to run on one computer.

Question 26

4.1 Networks

Answer 26

Two or more computers connected together to communicate.

Question 27

4.2 Tim Berners-Lee

Answer 27

Computer Scientist still working today. Invented the World Wide Web and allowed it to be used for free.

Question 28

4.3 The Internet

Answer 28

A worldwide international network, used to share information on websites and communicate e.g email

Question 29

4.4 World Wide Web (WWW)

Answer 29

A collection of websites which can be accessed through the Internet.