Computer Systems Flashcards
What is an actuator?
An output device that moves when it receives a signal from the computer.
What is the motherboard?
The main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer
What are the order of bytes.
Byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte.
What is an output device?
A piece of hardware that receives data from the computer and returns the processed data back to you.
What is the size of a terabyte?
1000 gigabytes.
What is the difference between hardware and software?
Hardware is the physical parts that make up the computer and softwares are the programs that run on a computer in order for you to use it.
Give examples of output devices.
Monitors, displays, printers, projectors, headphones and speakers.
What is the size of a byte?
8 bits.
What does (PCB) stand for?
Printed circuit board.
What is the role of the cooling fans?
To keep the inside of the computer cool.
What is the size of a gigabyte?
1000 megabytes.
What is the size of a megabyte.
1000 kilobytes.
What is a bit?
The smallest unit of data that a computer can process or store.
Give examples of assistive technology.
Braille keyboards, screen reader software, automatic captioning software.
What is a computer?
Machines that handle and process data.
What is assistive technology?
Technology/devices that have been designed to help people with certain disabilities.
What is the role of a CPU?
For executing instructions and processing daata.
What are examples of hardware?
Mouse, CPU, Motherboard, computer keyboard, hard drive, monitor and graphics processing unit.
What is the role of a power supply in a computer?
To supply power to the other pieces of hardware.
What does a circuit that has been switched on represent?
The digit 1.
What is the difference between data and information?
Data is information that has no context but becomes information when you add meaning.
What is the size of a kilobyte?
1000 bytes.
What is a dedicated computer?
A computer designed to handle a single task and only do that task.
What does CPU stand for?
Central processing unit.
What is an input device?
Any device that sends data to a computer.
What does a circuit that has been switched off represent?
The digit 0.
Give examples of data.
Monthly bills of a person, number of students in a class, number of hours spent on something.
Suggest many input devices that can be found in shops.
Barcode scanners, card readers, touchscreens.
Give examples of input devices.
Keyboards, computer mice, scanners, cameras and microphones.
What is the size of a nibble?
4 bits.
What does “ALU” stand for?
Arithmetic logic unit.
What does “CU” stand for?
Control unit
What is the role of the arithmetic logic unit?
To perform calculations.
What is the role of the control unit?
To control the flow of data.
What does the memory do?
The memory holds the programs data and instructions.
What does the registers do?
They hold data and instructions that are about to be used by the CPU.
What does the processing power of the CPU depend on?
How many cores it has pr how fast it can process instructions.
What is meant by clock speed?
How quickly a CPU can process instructions.
What is the fetch decode execute cycle?
How a CPU carries out an instruction.
What is volatile memory?
A type of memory that stores its data only while the device is powered but erases it as soon as the computer is switched off.
What is non volatile memory?
A type of memory that remains in a computer even after the system shuts off.
What does (RAM) stand for?
Random Access Memory.
What is the difference between (RAM) and (ROM)?
RAM is volatile and ROM is non-volatile.
What does (ROM) stand for>
Read only memory
What can ROM only do?
It can only be read from and no written to.
What is the use of secondary storage?
To keep programs and data stored on your computer permanently.
What is primary storage?
The memory that the CPU can access very quickly.
What is secondary storage?
Secondary storage is non volatile. It is where things like applications, user files and the operating system are stored when not in use.
What does (HDD) stand for?
Hard disk drive.
What does (SSD) stand for?
Solid State Drives.
