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.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of memory is typically used for RAM?

    <p>Random Access Memory</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.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is categorized as secondary storage?

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

    What is the first step in the program execution cycle?

    <p>Fetch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of memory is RAM classified as?

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

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of ROM?

    <p>Volatile</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Which option describes a characteristic of mass storage devices?

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

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

    <p>RAM</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a computer defined as?

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

    Which component is considered the main part of a computer?

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

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

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

    What is the purpose of registers in the CPU?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What are the three fundamental types of machine instructions?

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

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

    <p>Fetch</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</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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)

    Description

    Explore the fundamental concepts of computer architecture, including the CPU, main memory, and the role of hardware and software. This quiz covers how computers process data using machine instructions, memory cells, and buses. Test your knowledge of the essential components and operations that make computers function.

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