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National 5 Computing Science > Computer Systems > Flashcards

Computer Systems Flashcards

1
Q

What do computers use to store data?

A

Binary

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2
Q

What is the binary value of 123?

A

01111011

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3
Q

What is the Denary value of 10101001?

A

169

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4
Q

What is a floating point?

A

A floating-point number is made of two parts called the Mantissa and Exponent.

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5
Q

How are real numbers stored on a computer?

A

By the Mantissa and the Exponent.

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6
Q

What is the mantissa?

A

The Mantissa is the “number” part of the scientific notation.

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7
Q

What is the Exponent?

A

The Exponent is the “power” of the scientific notation.

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8
Q

What is the name of the method of storing real numbers on a computer?

A

Floating Point Representation.

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9
Q

What is the name given to the binary code for all characters?

A

ASCII

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10
Q

What does ASCII stand for?

A

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

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11
Q

What is the limit of ASCII?

A

256

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12
Q

What is the name of the total number of pixels in a bit-mapped image?

A

Resolution

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13
Q

What is the name of the total number of colours used in a a bit-mapped image?

A

Bit Depth

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14
Q

What is bit depth?

A

The number of bits used to store each pixel in an image.

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15
Q

Bit-Mapped images are one type of graphic. What is the other type of graphic?

A

Vector Graphic

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16
Q

How are Vector Graphics stored?

A

By it’s attributes

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17
Q

What are some examples of attributes of vector graphics?

A
  • Line colour
  • Fill colour
  • Coordinates
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18
Q

What are the types of vector objects?

A
  • Rectangle
  • Line
  • Ellipse
  • Polygon
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19
Q

What is the definition of fill colour?

A

Fill Colour is the colour used to fill the inside of a vector graphic.

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20
Q

What is the definition of line colour?

A

Line Colour is the colour used on the rim of the vector graphic.

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21
Q

Advantages of vector graphics?

A
  • Smaller file size - do not store data about each individual pixel. For a large illustration, such as a poster, a vector graphic would have a significantly smaller file size compared to a bitmap image.
  • Scalable - when you resize a vector graphic the mathematical relationships mean that the image does not lose quality. A vector graphic the size of a postage stamp could be resized to be used on a poster and the image would still be clear.
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22
Q

Disadvantages of vector graphics?

A

Vector graphics are never going to be as lifelike as bitmaps or photos. They will always appear computer generated.

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23
Q

What is a bitmap?

A

A bitmap is a grid of pixels. Each pixel has a colour associated with it.

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24
Q

Advantages of bitmaps?

A

They can capture real-life images such as photos.

25
Q

What is a vector graphic?

A

In a vector, the image is made up of shapes called objects. Each object has a list of attributes.

26
Q

What is a pixel

A

An individual square in a bitmap image.

27
Q

What does CPU stand for?

A

Central Processing Unit

28
Q

What does a CPU do?

A
  • Fetch, decode and execute information from the RAM
  • Perform arithmetic calculation
  • Perform logical operations
  • Control read, write, clock, interrupt and reset lines
29
Q

What are the three components of a CPU?

A
  • ALU
  • Registers
  • Control Unit
30
Q

What does ALU stand for?

A

Arithmetic Logic Unit

31
Q

What does an ALU do in the CPU?

A
  • Performs all calculations
  • Performs comparisons on numeric values
  • Makes decisions based on logic (AND, OR, NOT)
32
Q

What do the Registers do in the CPU?

A
  • Fast temporary storage locations within the processor
  • Stores addresses, data, or instructions being used by the CPU
33
Q

What does the Control Unit do in the CPU?

A
  • Runs the flow of data around the computer
  • Uses a clock to synchronise events
  • Has a reset line to reset the contents of the registers
  • Has an interrupt line which is used to signal that there is an event needing attention
34
Q

What does the Clock Speed tell us about the CPU?

A

The Clock Speed is a measure of how quickly a CPU can handle and complete tasks. It is measured in Hertz (Hz).

35
Q

What does RAM stand for?

A

Random Access Memory

36
Q

What is the RAM?

A

The RAM is a temporary storage location for data until it is needed by the CPU.

37
Q

What happens to RAM when a program is closed?

A

Data held in RAM is deleted.

38
Q

What are the names of the two buses?

A

Data Bus and Address Bus

39
Q

What does the Data Bus do?

A
  • Carries data from memory to be used and stored by the processor
  • It is bi-directional because data can travel both ways
40
Q

What does the Address Bus do?

A
  • Tells memory which memory location is being read from
  • Tells memory which memory location is being written to
  • Is uni-directional (or one-way) because the address always goes from the processor to the memory
41
Q

What are the two types of translators?

A

Interpreters and Compilers

42
Q

What do Interpreters do?

A

An interpreter translates source code into machine code one line at a time.

43
Q

Advantages of Interpreters?

A
  • Errors are notified after each line has been interpreted making debugging easier
  • You can run your code without it being finished
44
Q

Disadvantages of Interpreters?

A
  • Statements in a loop are translated repeatedly
  • Code has to be translated each time it is run
45
Q

What do Compilers do?

A

A compiler translates the entire source code program to object code in one go.

46
Q

Advantages of Compilers?

A
  • Code only has to be translated once
  • Users don’t need to have the translator program running
47
Q

Disadvantages of Compilers?

A
  • Users have to re-translate the whole program if they want to make a change
  • All errors are reported after the compilation
47
Q

What are the three main ways to reduce the amount of energy used by our computers?

A
  • Monitor Settings
  • Power down settings
  • Standby
48
Q

What are the settings that we can alter via the monitor which allow us to save energy?

A
  • Reduce brightness
  • Not using a screensaver
  • Using efficiency mode, if it is a feature
  • Using energy-efficient monitors
49
Q

What is Standby mode another name for?

A

Sleep Mode

50
Q

What happens when a computer goes into standby mode?

A
  • RAM continues to be powered
  • Software in use is temporarily stored until the user resumes work
  • Power to other components is significantly reduced
51
Q

What is the other kind of power saving mode?

A

Hibernate Mode

52
Q

What happens when Hibernate Mode is activated?

A
  • Contents of RAM are copied onto the hard disk
  • Hard Disk saves a permanent copy
  • Almost all components are completely turned off or are on very low power
53
Q

Why do some people argue that using standby and hibernate modes is better than shutting the computer down?

A

Because starting up a computer after shutdown causes a surge in power to components.

54
Q

What is data usually split into before it is sent across a network?

A

Packets

eg. an image file is not sent as one single file but instead a separate packets which are used to assemble an image file once they are received.

55
Q

What do firewalls do?

A
  • Ensure that data packets meet specific criteria before entering a network
  • Deny unauthorised access
56
Q

What are firewall rules made from?

A
  • Port Number
  • Protocols
  • Sender IP address
  • Receiver IP address
57
Q

What is encryption?

A

Encryption is the method of scrambling data up in order to stop any unauthorised person(s) from reading it.

58
Q

When using encryption, what is it pivotal to ensure?

A

Make sure that the sender and receiver of the encrypted data are following the same code or key.

National 5 Computing Science (4 decks)

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