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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
What are digital computers?
Computers which use digital signals
26
What are hybrid computers?
A combination of analog and digital computers
27
What are the main functions of a computer?
Input, process, store data and output information
28
Computer system diagram (Page ?)
Page 36
29
Explain the process of a computer system
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
30
What does the control unit do?
It sends signals to all devices
31
What happens when a program is executed?
Relevant data and instructions are sent to the CPU
32
What are input devices?
The devices used to feed data and instructions into the computer
33
Name a few examples for input devices (5)
``` Keyboard Pointing devices Media input devices Scanners Microphones ```
34
What are the types of keys found on a keyboard? (5)
Typing, function, special, control and numeric keys
35
What are standard number of keys on a keyboard?
101-108 keys
36
Give a few examples for pointing devices (4)
Mouse Touch screen Joystick Light pen
37
Where are light pens used?
In Computer Aided Designs (CAD)
38
How do scanners work?
They emit laser beams which convert documents to digital data
39
Give a few examples for scanners (6)
``` Flatbed scanners Bar code readers Magnetic ink character readers (MICR) Optical character recognition devices (OCR) Automated teller machines (ATM) ```
40
What are the three different types of output?
Soft copy Hard copy Sound
41
Give an example for a device which outputs soft copy
Screens
42
Give another name by which monitors are called
Visual Display Unit (VDU)
43
What are the three different types of monitors?
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Light Emitting Diode (LED)
44
Explain how LCD displays work?
They utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them
45
Where are LEDs used?
In symbols, billboards and name boards
46
Why are multimedia projectors used?
To get information to a wide screen so that several people can view it simultaneously
47
What is hard copy?
Tangible output of a computer system
48
Give an example for a device which produces hard copy
Printer
49
What are the two main types of printers?
Impact and non impact printers
50
Name two impact printers
Dot matrix printers | Line printers
51
Name three non impact printers
Laser printers Bubble/ink jet printers Thermal printers
52
What are impact printers?
Printers that have a head or a needle which strikes against an ink ribbon to make marks on papers
53
What are the features of impact printers? (2)
Noisy | Cheap
54
Why are impact printers used in shops?
Because their ink ribbon is cheap
55
What is a special feature of line printers?
Ability to print 3000 lines per minute
56
What are the features of non impact printers? (3)
Quiet Quick Expensive
57
How do laser printers work?
By applying the toner in the cartridge on paper
58
How do bubble/inkjet printers work?
The ink is deposited on paper via small nozzles
59
What are the common places where thermal printers are used? (3)
In ATMs, receipts and label printers
60
How do plotters work?
By moving a pen on paper
61
Where are plotters used? (2)
Architectural designs | Town plans
62
What is a CPU (Central Processing Unit)?
The brain of a computer system
63
What does a CPU do?
Manage the operating system and application software
64
What are the main components of a CPU? (3)
``` Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) Control Unit (CU) Memory registers ```
65
What does the ALU do?
Perform mathematical and logical functions
66
What does the CU do?
Controls all devices
67
What do the memory registers do?
Temporarily stores data related to the ALU
68
What is unit used to measure the clock speed of a computer?
Hertz (Hz)
69
What are the two main types of memory in a computer?
Main and secondary memory
70
What are the two main components under main memory?
Random access memory (RAM) | Read only memory (ROM)
71
What is primary memory?
Memory that can be directly accessed by the CPU
72
How is RAM called based on it's memory?
Volatile memory
73
What are the features of RAM? (2)
Data will be lost when the computer loses power | Both read and write capable
74
What is the function of RAM?
To store data from input and output devices
75
How is ROM called based on it's memory?
Non volatile memory
76
What is the function of ROM?
It holds the BIOS of the computer
77
What is BIOS (Basic Input Output System)?
A list of commands needed to boot up the computer
78
What is cache memory?
The mediator between the CPU and primary memory
79
How does cache memory work?
First it is checked by the CPU for data to processed. If such isn't found it is collected from RAM
80
Cache memory diagram (Page ?)
Page 47
81
What is secondary memory?
The device which stores data permanently
82
What are the different ways it is called? (2)
Secondary storage | External storage
83
What are the two kinds of secondary memory?
Internal and external secondary memory
84
Why is secondary memory called non volatile memory?
Because it's memory is not erased when it loses power
85
Secondary memory diagram (Page ?)
Page 47
86
What are magnetic media devices?
Devices where data is stored using magnetic field
87
What are some examples for magnetic media devices?
Hard disk drive Magnetic tape Optical media
88
What is the range of capacity of a hard drive?
250GB-4TB
89
What are the seven components of a hard drive?
``` Platter Spindle Head Actuator arm Actuator Power connector IDE connector ```
90
What is the platter?
A metallic disk on which data can be stored on both sides using magnetic media. There can be multiple of them.
91
What does the spindle do?
Holds the platter and rotates it
92
What does the actuator arm do?
Enables reading and writing of data from any part of the platter
93
What does the head do?
Reads and writes the magnetic data on the platter
94
What does the IDE connector do?
Transmits data to the platter
95
What is the actuator?
The device which moves the arm via a motor
96
Where are magnetic tapes used?
Server computers
97
What is optical media?
A device where data stored digitally is read and written by a laser beam
98
What are the different types of optical media?
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
What is the capacity range of a CD?
600-900MB
100
What is the capacity range of a DVD?
4.7-9.4GB
101
What is the capacity range of a blue ray?
25-128GB
102
What are solid state drives?
Storage devices which do not contain moving parts
103
What are some examples of storage devices? (2)
USB drive | Memory card
104
Why are USB drives popular?
They are portable and fast
105
Where are memory cards used?
In digital cameras, mobile phones, gaming devices
106
What are ports?
The interface which connects computers to other devices
107
What are the ports found on a motherboard?
PS/2

Information and communication technology (3 decks)

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