Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

ENGI1515 > Overview of Computers and Programming > Flashcards

Overview of Computers and Programming Flashcards

- Learn about different catagories of computers - Understand the role of each hardware component - Differentiate between machine, assembly and higher-level languages - Understand what processes are required to run a C program - Learn how to solve programming problems in a disciplined way - Computer and Programming Ethics

1
Q

What is a “Microprocessor”?

A

a silicon chip containing the circuitry for a computer processor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is “Hardware”? (In the context of computers tony…)

A

the actual computer equipment (better put, ‘physical components/parts of a computer’)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is “Software”?

A

the set of programs associated with a computer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a “Program”?

A

a list of instructions that enables a computer to perform a specific task

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are “Binary Numbers”?

A

a number whose digits are 0 and 1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does CPU stand for?

A

Central Processing Unit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a “CPU”?

A

coordinates all computer operations and performs arithmetic and logical operations on data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Fetching an instruction retrieves it from where?

A

in the main memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a “Register”?

A

high-speed memory location inside the CPU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a “Multiprocessor”?

A

a computer with more than one CPU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Name the 5 Basic Components of a Computer

A

I/O Devices (2), Secondary Storage, Main-Memory, Central-Processing Unit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the 3 Number Systems learned in this course?

A

Binary, Decimal, Hexadecimal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are “Base Numbers”?

A

The number of unique digits used to represent numbers in a positional number system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What base does the Decimal Number System use?

A

Base 10

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What base does the Binary Number System use?

A

Base 2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is “Positional Notation”?

A

The position to the left of the base point is always the units position in any number system
AND the position to the left of the unit position is always the number base raised to the first power.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 3 types of Computer (System) Buses we learned?

A

Data Bus, Address Bus, Control Bus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the “Data Bus” connect to?

A

Connects CPU to RAM and other components connected to the computer/system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does the “Address Bus” do?

A

Connects CPU to the RAM and carries memory addresses for read/write operations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does the “Control Bus” do?

A

Connects CPU and control unit with RAM and other components connected to the computer–carries control signals for components

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a “Memory cell”?

A

an individual storage location in memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the “Address of a memory cell”?

A

the relative position of a memory cell in the computer’s main memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the “Contents of a memory cell”?

A

the information stored in a memory cell, can be either a program instruction or data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is a “Stored Program Concept”?

A

a computer’s ability to store program instructions in main memory for execution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
What is a BYTE?
the amount of storage required to store a single character
25
What is a BIT?
a binary digit, a 0 or a 1
26
What is the relationship conversion between a Byte and a Bit?
8 BITS = 1 BYTE
27
What is "Data Storage"?
setting the individual bits of a memory cell to 0 or 1, destroying its previous contents
28
What is "Data Retrieval"?
copying the contents of a particular memory cell to another storage area
29
What does RAM stand for?
Random Access Memory
30
What is "RAM"?
the part of main memory that temporarily stores programs, data and results
31
What does ROM stand for?
Read-Only Memory
32
What is "ROM"?
the part of main memory that permanently stores programs or data -- (retains it even after PC is powered off)
33
What is "Volatile Memory"?
memory whose contents disappear when the computer is switched off
34
What is "Secondary Storage"?
units such as disks or flash drives that retain data even when the power to the drive is off
35
What is a "Disk"?
a thin platter of metal or plastic on which data are represented by magnetized spots arranged in tracks
36
What is an "Optical Drive"?
a device that uses a laser to access or store data on a CD or DVD/Blu-Ray Disk
37
What is a "Flash Drive"?
a device that plugs into USB port and stores data bits as trapped electrons
38
What is a "File"?
named collection of data stored on a disk -- (Disk Drive Storage)
39
What is a "Directory"?
a list of names of files stored on a disk
40
What is a "Subdirectory"?
a list of the names of files that relate to a particular topic
41
What is a "Cursor"?
a moving place marker that appears on the screen/console
42
What are "Function Keys"?
Special keyboard keys used to select a particular operation; operation selected depends on program being used
43
What is a "Mouse/Touchpad"?
input device(s) that move a cursor on the computer screen to select an operation
44
What is an "Icon"?
a picture representing a computer operation
45
What is a "Hard Copy"?
a printed -- (or physical) -- version of information
46
What does LAN stand for?
Local Area Network
47
What is a "LAN"?
computers, printers, scanners, and storage devices that are connected by cables for intercommunication
48
What is a "File Server"?
the computer in a network that controls access to a secondary storage device such as a hard disk
49
What does WAN stand for?
Wide Area Network
50
What is a "WAN"?
a network such as the Internet that connects computers and LANs over a large geographical area
51
What does WWW stand for?
World Wide Web
52
What is the "WWW"?
a part of the Internet whose GUIs make associated network resources easily navigable
53
What does GUI stand for?
Graphical User Interface
54
What is a "GUI"?
pictures and menus displayed to allow user to select commands and data
55
What is a "Modem"?
device that converts binary data into analog signals that can be transmitted between computers over telephone lines
56
What is "Cable Internet Access"?
two-way high speed transmission of Internet data through two of the hundreds of channels available over the coaxial cable that carries cable television signals
57
What does OS stand for and what is an "OS"?
Operating System; software that controls interaction of user and computer hardware and that manages allocation of computer resources
58
What is the action of "Booting a computer" doing?
loading the operating system from disk into the memory
59
What is an "Application"?
software used for a specific task such as word processing, accounting, database management, playing a game, or checking the weather forecast
60
What is the action of "Install" doing?
make an application available on a computer by copying it to the computer's hard drive
61
What are the 3 generation types of Computer Languages spoken about in this course?
Machine Language, Assembly Language, and Higher-level Language
62
What is "Machine Language"?
binary number codes understood by a specific CPU
63
What is "Assembly Language"?
Mnemonic codes that correspond to machine language instructions
64
What is "Higher-level Language"?
machine-independent programming language that combines algebraic expressions and English symbols
65
What is a "Compiler"?
software that translates a higher-level language program into machine language
66
What is a "Source File"?
file containing a program written in a higher-level language; the input for a compiler
67
What is "Syntax"?
grammar rules of a programming language
68
What is an "Object File"?
file of a machine language instructions that is the output of a compiler
69
What is a "Linker"?
software that combines object files and resolves cross-references to create an executable machine language program
70
What does IDE stand for?
Integrated Development Environment
71
What is an "IDE"?
software package combining a word processor, compiler, linker, loader, and tools for finding errors (syntax)
72
What is the process for running and building a program on your computer?
Source File (text) -> into COMPILER -> to OBJECT FILE (binary) -> into LINKER -> to EXECUTABLE FILE (exe binary) -> into LOADER -> copies to memory -> RUNS
73
What is "Input Data"?
the data values that are scanned by a program
74
What is "Program Output"?
the lines displayed by a program -- (in console)
75
What are the 6 steps for the "Software Development Method"?
1. Specify the problem requirements 2. Analyze the problem 3. Design the algorithm to solve the problem 4. Implement the algorithm 5. Test and verify the completed program 6. Maintain and Update the program
76
What is "Abstraction"?
the process of modeling a problem by extracting the essential variables and their relationships
77
What is an "Algorithm"?
a list of steps -- (instructions) -- for solving a problem
78
What is "Top-down Design"?
breaking a problem into its major subproblems and then solving the subproblems
79
What is "Stepwise Refinement"?
development of a detailed list of steps to solve a particular step in the original algorithm
80
What is "Desk Checking"?
the step-by-step simulation of the computer execution of an algorithm
81
What is "Computer Theft"? (Computer Fraud)
illegally obtaining money by falsifying information in a computer database
82
What is a "Virus"?
code attached to another program that spreads through a computer's disk memory, disrupting the computer or erasing information
83
What is a "Worm"?
a virus that can disrupt a network by replicating itself on other network computers
84
What is "Software Piracy"?
violating copyright agreements by illegally copying software for use in another computer

ENGI1515 (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions