Computer Science: How Computers Work

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Questions and Answers

What role does the program counter play in the program execution cycle?

  • It decodes the next instruction.
  • It stores the current instruction.
  • It executes the current instruction.
  • It holds the address of the next instruction. (correct)

During which step of the machine cycle does the CPU interpret and determine the operation of an instruction?

  • Store
  • Fetch
  • Execute
  • Decode (correct)

How is a memory cell typically structured in main memory?

  • 4 bits
  • 1 byte (8 bits) (correct)
  • 32 bits
  • 16 bits

What is the primary purpose of the instruction register in the program execution cycle?

<p>To store the current instruction being executed. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory is typically used for RAM?

<p>Random Access Memory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a memory address?

<p>An integer that uniquely identifies a memory cell. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is categorized as secondary storage?

<p>Hard Disk (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the program execution cycle?

<p>Fetch (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory is RAM classified as?

<p>Temporary Storage (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of ROM?

<p>Volatile (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of mass storage devices compared to main memory?

<p>Less volatility (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which storage type uses mechanical movement to read and write data?

<p>Hard Disks (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technology do CD, DVD, and Blu-ray use to read and write data?

<p>Optical Pulses (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option describes a characteristic of mass storage devices?

<p>Larger storage capacities (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do flash drives differ from hard disks?

<p>Flash drives have no moving parts, while hard disks use mechanical movement (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storage holds data and instructions that are waiting to be processed?

<p>RAM (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a computer defined as?

<p>A programmable, digital device (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component is considered the main part of a computer?

<p>Central Processing Unit (CPU) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) within the CPU do?

<p>Conducts mathematical and logical operations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of registers in the CPU?

<p>To hold instructions/data during processing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the bus in a computer system?

<p>To transfer data between different components (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a motherboard responsible for in a computer?

<p>Holding the main electronic parts and allowing them to work together (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During the program execution cycle, what does the CPU primarily do with the instructions stored in main memory?

<p>Extracts and executes the instructions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory is primarily used for temporary storage during processing?

<p>Main memory (RAM) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of an op-code in a machine instruction?

<p>To indicate the operation to be executed (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of machine instruction is responsible for computing new bit patterns using existing ones?

<p>Arithmetic/Logic Instructions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which method do machine instructions primarily communicate with the CPU?

<p>Encoded bit patterns (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does hexadecimal notation help to achieve in relation to bit patterns?

<p>It simplifies the representation of long bit patterns (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which part of a machine instruction provides detailed information about the operation being executed?

<p>The operand (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three fundamental types of machine instructions?

<p>Data Transfer, Arithmetic, and Control (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the CPU’s main functions during program execution?

<p>Fetch (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the interpretation of an operand vary in machine instruction?

<p>It depends on the op-code used (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Program Execution Cycle

A series of steps a computer follows to execute a program, involving fetching, decoding, and executing instructions.

Program Counter

A special register that holds the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

Instruction Register

A special register that holds the current instruction being executed.

Fetch (Machine Cycle)

The step where the computer retrieves the next instruction from memory.

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Decode (Machine Cycle)

The step where the CPU interprets the instruction and determines what operation needs to be performed.

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Execute (Machine Cycle)

The step where the instruction is carried out.

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Memory Cell

A basic unit of storage in main memory, typically 8 bits (a byte).

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Memory Address

A unique number identifying a specific memory cell.

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Primary Storage

The computer's main memory, where instructions and data are directly accessed.

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RAM

Random Access Memory, a type of primary storage that can be read from and written to.

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ROM

Read-Only Memory, a type of primary storage that holds permanent instructions, often containing system boot instructions.

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Secondary Storage

Storage that is not directly accessed by the CPU, but used for long-term data storage.

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Hard Disk

A type of magnetic secondary storage device.

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RAM

Temporary storage that holds data and instructions waiting to be processed. Individual cells are easily accessed in any order.

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ROM

Permanent storage that holds the bootstrap instructions, crucial for starting up the computer.

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Mass Storage

External storage devices offering larger capacities than RAM, and are generally non-volatile. Includes magnetic disks and flash drives etc.

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Hard Disk

Non-volatile mass storage device that uses mechanical movement to read and write data. Stores programs and files.

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CD/DVD/Blu-ray

Non-volatile optical storage devices that use lasers to read and write data. These are often used for portable storage.

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Computer

A programmable digital device using only 2 digits (0 and 1).

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Computer Architecture

The design and organization of a computer's components.

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CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The main component of a computer, handling processing tasks.

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Registers (CPU)

Special CPU storage areas for temporary data and instructions.

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Bus

Connects components, allowing data transfer between them.

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Motherboard

The main circuit board holding crucial electronic parts.

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Input/Output

Handles data entering and exiting the computer system.

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Processing

The manipulation of data according to instructions.

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Storage

Holding data and instructions for later use.

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Machine Instruction

A command encoded as a bit pattern, understood by the CPU.

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Machine Language

The collection of all instructions a specific computer can execute.

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Data Transfer Instruction

Copies data from one location to another in the computer.

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Arithmetic/Logic Instruction

Performs operations on existing data to produce new data.

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Control Instruction

Controls the order or sequence of instructions to execute.

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Op-code

Part of an instruction that specifies the operation to perform.

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Operand

Part of an instruction telling where data is to be found or used.

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Hexadecimal Notation

A shorthand representation for long bit patterns using letters and numbers.

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Study Notes

Computer Science: How Computers Work

  • Computers are programmable, digital devices.
  • They use only 2 digits (0 and 1).
  • They have hardware and software components.
  • Computers have input, processing, storage and output components.
  • Computer architecture involves the CPU, Memory, and Motherboard.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

  • The CPU is the main component of a computer.
  • It has an arithmetic/logic unit (ALU), a control unit (CU), and registers.
  • Registers store instructions and data during processing.
  • Special purpose registers like Program counter hold status of the program.
  • A bus transfers data between different parts of the computer.
  • The motherboard holds the main components and allows them to work together.

Main Memory

  • Memory cells are units of main memory that hold 8 bits (a byte).
  • Memory addresses are used to uniquely identify each cell.
  • Memory addresses are numbered consecutively, starting from zero.

Machine Instruction Terminology

  • Machine instruction: A command that is coded as a bit pattern, readable by the CPU.
  • Machine Language: The set of all instructions a machine understands.

Machine Instruction Types

  • Data Transfer: Copying data from one location to another.
  • Arithmetic/Logic: Using existing bit patterns to compute new ones.
  • Control: Directing the execution of a program.

Parts of a Machine Instruction

  • Op-code: Specifies which operation to execute.
  • Operand: Gives detailed information about the operation. The way it's interpreted depends on the op-code. An example is given of a bit pattern (16 bits) and its hexadecimal representation (4 digits).

Hexadecimal Notation

  • A shorthand notation for long bit patterns.
  • Divides bit patterns into groups of four bits.
  • Represents each of the four bit groups by a symbol to shorten them (A-F). An example is shown in the study notes.

Program Execution Cycle: CPU's Main Functions

  • Instructions and Data are fetched from memory and handled by the CPU.
  • The CPU decodes the instruction to understand what to do.
  • The CPU executes the instruction, including any operations on the data.
  • The program counter is updated to point to the next instruction.

Memory Terminology

  • Primary Storage: RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory). RAM is volatile; information is lost when power is off. ROM information remains.
  • Secondary Storage: External devices like magnetic disks (hard drives), CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and flash drives. These are non-volatile and can store large amounts of information.

Storage: Further details

  • RAM (Random Access Memory): Temporary storage. Data and instructions are loaded here to be processed. Individual memory locations can be accessed easily.

  • ROM (Read-Only Memory): Permanent storage for basic instructions that start the computer process (bootstrap instructions).

  • Hard Disk: Permanent storage for long-term data, files and software programs. Uses mechanical movement.

  • CD, DVD, Blu-ray: Permanent storage for data and files. Uses optical pulses for read/write access. Portable.

  • Flash Storage: Permanent storage. Uses electrical pulses for read/write. Portable. Great for digital cameras, smartphones and portable devices.

Measuring Storage Capacity

  • Kilobyte (KB): 210 bytes (1024 bytes)
  • Megabyte (MB): 220 bytes (1,048,576 bytes)
  • Gigabyte (GB): 230 bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes)

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Week 3 - Topic 3 - How the Computer Works (PDF)

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