Topic 3: Computers

• What is the fetch-decode-execute cycle?


  A process that CPUs use to execute instructions
• What is pipelining in CPU operations?

  Overlapping stages of the fetch-execute cycle
• What happens to a computer's main memory when power is switched off?

  Content is lost
• How does secondary storage differ from main memory?

  Secondary storage is non-volatile
• Why is secondary storage considered cheaper than RAM?

  It has much higher capacity
• What are the three common physical ways of recording binary data?

  1. Magnetic storage
  2. Optical storage
  3. Solid-state storage
• How does magnetic storage represent binary data?

  Using north and south poles of magnets
• What types of devices use magnetic storage?

  Hard drives and magnetic tape drives
• What is the main characteristic of cyclical secondary storage?

  It allows repeated access to data
• How does the speed of secondary storage compare to RAM?

  Secondary storage is slower to access
• What is the primary function of secondary storage?

  To store data and programs when not needed
• What is the main function of a computer?

  To process data
• What is a clock in computing?

  A device that synchronises operations
• What is the fetch-decode-execute cycle?

  • Fetch: Retrieve instruction from memory
  • Decode: Interpret the instruction
  • Execute: Perform the instruction
• What does the fetch-decode-execute cycle consist of?

  Fetch, decode, and execute
• Why is the fetch-decode-execute cycle important?

  It is essential for executing instructions
• How does the fetch-decode-execute cycle contribute to computer performance?

  It determines the speed of instruction processing
• What is a computer system composed of?

  Hardware and software components
• What should you be able to identify by the end of this section?

  Hardware and software components
• What model do all computers operate according to?

  The input-process-output model
• What is a computer?

  A machine that processes input to produce output
• What does hardware refer to in a computer system?

  The physical components of the computer
• What is software in a computer system?

  Programs running on the hardware
• What is the clever activity in computing?

  The processing between inputs and outputs
• What does processing involve in computing?

  Following a set of instructions to generate output
• How is processing similar to following a recipe?

  Both involve steps to achieve a result
• What are the key components of a computer system?

  • Hardware
  • Software
• What is the input-process-output model?

  1. Input: Data received by the computer
  2. Process: Manipulation of data
  3. Output: Result produced by the computer
• What is the stored program concept?

  Storing program instructions and data in memory
• Who is responsible for producing energy-efficient devices in embedded systems?

  Programmers of embedded systems
• Who proposed the stored program concept?

  John von Neumann
• What must programmers do to make code more efficient?

  Select and sequence programming constructs
• What has helped extend the battery life of IoT devices?

  Advances in battery technology
• What does the von Neumann architecture consist of?

  Main memory and a central processing unit
• What is a potential long-term solution for IoT devices' power needs?

  Power harvesting
• What is the significance of the stored program concept?

  It allows computers to switch tasks easily
• What is a pacemaker?

  A battery-operated embedded system
• What is main memory commonly referred to as?

  RAM or random access memory
• How is main memory organized?

  As a collection of storage locations with addresses
• How does a pacemaker function?

  It uses electrical pulses to regulate heartbeats