History of Calculating Machines

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary purpose of early computing machines prior to World War II?

  • To encrypt and decrypt secret messages for military purposes
  • To control industrial machinery and automate manufacturing
  • To perform complex mathematical calculations (correct)
  • To automate business processes and record-keeping

Which of the following statements about early computing machines is true?

  • They were purely electronic, using electricity for calculations
  • They used electricity to move mechanical parts, but not for calculations
  • They were designed and built exclusively for military applications
  • They were powered by human exertion, such as keypresses (correct)

What was the fundamental difference between early electromechanical computers and modern computers?

  • Modern computers use electricity for calculations, while early computers used mechanical gears (correct)
  • Modern computers are programmable, while early computers were not
  • Modern computers are digital, while early computers were analog
  • Modern computers are faster and more powerful than early computers

Which groups of people were involved in the development of modern computers during World War II?

<p>Physicists and mathematicians (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the problem faced by the United States Army in 1943 that led to the development of the ENIAC?

<p>Lack of firing tables for artillery guns (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which variables needed to be taken into account to fire an artillery gun correctly, according to the text?

<p>Distance from target, wind speed, humidity, elevation, temperature (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of firing tables?

<p>To determine the correct angle for aiming artillery guns (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What made the calculation of firing tables challenging?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were firing tables initially created?

<p>By manual calculations performed by human 'computers' (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Ballistics Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground?

<p>To produce firing tables for the army (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was Dr. Herman Goldstine assigned to the University of Pennsylvania's computer team?

<p>To oversee the computation of firing tables more quickly (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the Differential Analyzer's limitation in computing firing tables?

<p>It frequently broke down and was unreliable (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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