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Information and communication technology > Fundamentals of a computer system > Flashcards

Fundamentals of a computer system Flashcards

1
Q

What is a computer?

A

An electronic device which processes data according to given instructions and produces output

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2
Q

What are the five features of a computer?

A 
Speed
Accuracy
Efficiency
Versatility
Storing and retrieving
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3
Q

Explain accuracy of a computer

A

It provides accurate output

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4
Q

Explain efficiency of a computer

A

It doesn’t become tired

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5
Q

Explain the versatility of a computer

A

It can be used to perform many tasks simultaneously

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6
Q

Explain the storage of a computer

A

It can be used to store a lot of data in a small space

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7
Q

What are the two ways by which computers are classified?

A

By physical size and technology

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8
Q

What are the four ways computers are classified according to physical size?

A

Super computers
Mainframe computers
Mini computers
Micro computers

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9
Q

What are super computers?

A

Large, expensive, rare and powerful computers

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10
Q

Where are super computers used? (3)

A

NASA
Large scale businesses
Military purposes

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11
Q

What are mainframe computers?

A

Smaller, less expensive and less powerful computers when compared to super computers

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12
Q

Where are mainframe computers used? (2)

A

Large scale businesses

E-businesses

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13
Q

What is a special place where mainframe computers are used?

A

Online transactions

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14
Q

What are mini computers?

A

Smaller, less expensive and less powerful computers when compared to mainframe computers

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15
Q

What is another name by which mini computers are called?

A

Common purpose computers

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16
Q

How are mainframe computers used?

A

Users connect to the central computer through terminals

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17
Q

What are the special features of mini computers?

A

Easy to use

Few users connect to the central computer through terminals

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18
Q

Where are mini computers used?

A

Medium scale institutions

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19
Q

What are micro computers?

A

Small computers meant for personal use

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20
Q

Name a few examples of micro computers (3)

A

Laptops
Handhelds
Smartphones

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21
Q

What are the two ways computers are classified based on their technology?

A

Analog and digital computers

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22
Q

What are analog computers?

A

Computers which use analog signals

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23
Q

Give a few examples for analog data (1-3)

A

Environmental parameters such as speed, pressure temperature

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24
Q

Give a few examples for analog computers (2)

A

Speedometers

Meteorological machines

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25
Q

What are digital computers?

A

Computers which use digital signals

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26
Q

What are hybrid computers?

A

A combination of analog and digital computers

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27
Q

What are the main functions of a computer?

A

Input, process, store data and output information

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28
Q

Computer system diagram (Page ?)

A

Page 36

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29
Q

Explain the process of a computer system

A

Data and instructions fed via input devices are sent to the primary memory and then sent to the CPU. Processed data stored in the primary memory is then sent as information to the output devices. The data to be stored is sent to the secondary storage. The control unit sends control signals to all devices. When a program is executed relevant data and instructions are sent to the CPU

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30
Q

What does the control unit do?

A

It sends signals to all devices

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31
Q

What happens when a program is executed?

A

Relevant data and instructions are sent to the CPU

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32
Q

What are input devices?

A

The devices used to feed data and instructions into the computer

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33
Q

Name a few examples for input devices (5)

A 
Keyboard
Pointing devices
Media input devices
Scanners
Microphones
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34
Q

What are the types of keys found on a keyboard? (5)

A

Typing, function, special, control and numeric keys

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35
Q

What are standard number of keys on a keyboard?

A

101-108 keys

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36
Q

Give a few examples for pointing devices (4)

A

Mouse
Touch screen
Joystick
Light pen

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37
Q

Where are light pens used?

A

In Computer Aided Designs (CAD)

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38
Q

How do scanners work?

A

They emit laser beams which convert documents to digital data

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39
Q

Give a few examples for scanners (6)

A 
Flatbed scanners
Bar code readers
Magnetic ink character readers (MICR)
Optical character recognition devices (OCR)
Automated teller machines (ATM)
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40
Q

What are the three different types of output?

A

Soft copy
Hard copy
Sound

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41
Q

Give an example for a device which outputs soft copy

A

Screens

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42
Q

Give another name by which monitors are called

A

Visual Display Unit (VDU)

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43
Q

What are the three different types of monitors?

A

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Light Emitting Diode (LED)

44
Q

Explain how LCD displays work?

A

They utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them

45
Q

Where are LEDs used?

A

In symbols, billboards and name boards

46
Q

Why are multimedia projectors used?

A

To get information to a wide screen so that several people can view it simultaneously

47
Q

What is hard copy?

A

Tangible output of a computer system

48
Q

Give an example for a device which produces hard copy

A

Printer

49
Q

What are the two main types of printers?

A

Impact and non impact printers

50
Q

Name two impact printers

A

Dot matrix printers

Line printers

51
Q

Name three non impact printers

A

Laser printers
Bubble/ink jet printers
Thermal printers

52
Q

What are impact printers?

A

Printers that have a head or a needle which strikes against an ink ribbon to make marks on papers

53
Q

What are the features of impact printers? (2)

A

Noisy

Cheap

54
Q

Why are impact printers used in shops?

A

Because their ink ribbon is cheap

55
Q

What is a special feature of line printers?

A

Ability to print 3000 lines per minute

56
Q

What are the features of non impact printers? (3)

A

Quiet
Quick
Expensive

57
Q

How do laser printers work?

A

By applying the toner in the cartridge on paper

58
Q

How do bubble/inkjet printers work?

A

The ink is deposited on paper via small nozzles

59
Q

What are the common places where thermal printers are used? (3)

A

In ATMs, receipts and label printers

60
Q

How do plotters work?

A

By moving a pen on paper

61
Q

Where are plotters used? (2)

A

Architectural designs

Town plans

62
Q

What is a CPU (Central Processing Unit)?

A

The brain of a computer system

63
Q

What does a CPU do?

A

Manage the operating system and application software

64
Q

What are the main components of a CPU? (3)

A 
Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU)
Control Unit (CU)
Memory registers
65
Q

What does the ALU do?

A

Perform mathematical and logical functions

66
Q

What does the CU do?

A

Controls all devices

67
Q

What do the memory registers do?

A

Temporarily stores data related to the ALU

68
Q

What is unit used to measure the clock speed of a computer?

A

Hertz (Hz)

69
Q

What are the two main types of memory in a computer?

A

Main and secondary memory

70
Q

What are the two main components under main memory?

A

Random access memory (RAM)

Read only memory (ROM)

71
Q

What is primary memory?

A

Memory that can be directly accessed by the CPU

72
Q

How is RAM called based on it’s memory?

A

Volatile memory

73
Q

What are the features of RAM? (2)

A

Data will be lost when the computer loses power

Both read and write capable

74
Q

What is the function of RAM?

A

To store data from input and output devices

75
Q

How is ROM called based on it’s memory?

A

Non volatile memory

76
Q

What is the function of ROM?

A

It holds the BIOS of the computer

77
Q

What is BIOS (Basic Input Output System)?

A

A list of commands needed to boot up the computer

78
Q

What is cache memory?

A

The mediator between the CPU and primary memory

79
Q

How does cache memory work?

A

First it is checked by the CPU for data to processed. If such isn’t found it is collected from RAM

80
Q

Cache memory diagram (Page ?)

A

Page 47

81
Q

What is secondary memory?

A

The device which stores data permanently

82
Q

What are the different ways it is called? (2)

A

Secondary storage

External storage

83
Q

What are the two kinds of secondary memory?

A

Internal and external secondary memory

84
Q

Why is secondary memory called non volatile memory?

A

Because it’s memory is not erased when it loses power

85
Q

Secondary memory diagram (Page ?)

A

Page 47

86
Q

What are magnetic media devices?

A

Devices where data is stored using magnetic field

87
Q

What are some examples for magnetic media devices?

A

Hard disk drive
Magnetic tape
Optical media

88
Q

What is the range of capacity of a hard drive?

A

250GB-4TB

89
Q

What are the seven components of a hard drive?

A 
Platter
Spindle
Head
Actuator arm
Actuator
Power connector
IDE connector
90
Q

What is the platter?

A

A metallic disk on which data can be stored on both sides using magnetic media. There can be multiple of them.

91
Q

What does the spindle do?

A

Holds the platter and rotates it

92
Q

What does the actuator arm do?

A

Enables reading and writing of data from any part of the platter

93
Q

What does the head do?

A

Reads and writes the magnetic data on the platter

94
Q

What does the IDE connector do?

A

Transmits data to the platter

95
Q

What is the actuator?

A

The device which moves the arm via a motor

96
Q

Where are magnetic tapes used?

A

Server computers

97
Q

What is optical media?

A

A device where data stored digitally is read and written by a laser beam

98
Q

What are the different types of optical media?

A

CD-ROM (Compact Disc- Read Only Memory)
CD-R (Compact disk- Write once)
CD-RW (Compact Disk- Re-writable)
DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk- Write once)
DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disk- Write once)
DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc- Rewritable)
Blue ray Disc R (BD) (Recordable)
Blue ray Disc RE (Recordable Erasable)
Blue ray 3D

99
Q

What is the capacity range of a CD?

A

600-900MB

100
Q

What is the capacity range of a DVD?

A

4.7-9.4GB

101
Q

What is the capacity range of a blue ray?

A

25-128GB

102
Q

What are solid state drives?

A

Storage devices which do not contain moving parts

103
Q

What are some examples of storage devices? (2)

A

USB drive

Memory card

104
Q

Why are USB drives popular?

A

They are portable and fast

105
Q

Where are memory cards used?

A

In digital cameras, mobile phones, gaming devices

106
Q

What are ports?

A

The interface which connects computers to other devices

107
Q

What are the ports found on a motherboard?

A

PS/2

Information and communication technology (3 decks)

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