1
Identify two input devices that can be built into the smartphone.
Touchscreen
Microphone
Sensor // by example
Biometric device
(Digital) camera
Identify two output devices that can be built into the smartphone.
Screen
Speaker
LED
Actuator
State three buses that are used in the CPU
data
address
control
State what is meant by an embedded system.
Computer system that is designed to a perform dedicated/single function
Computer system that contains a microprocessor (and)/dedicated hardware
Computer system that is built into a larger system
A robot vacuum cleaner uses sensors to navigate around obstacles in a room. Which sensor would be the most suitable for this purpose?
proximity
Explain the purpose of secondary storage in the smartphone.
To store data/files permanently otherwise, data/programs would need to be downloaded/entered/installed every time the smartphone was turned on
To allow software to be downloaded/installed on the smartphone
To store user files
For the creating of virtual memory
A user changes their CPU from a dual core and a clock speed of 2.4GHz to a dual core and a clock speed of 3.5GHz.
Explain the effect this change will have on the performance of the CPU.
It can now execute more instructions/FDE per second this will increase the performance of the CPU
A smartwatch has read only memory (ROM). Explain why the smartwatch needs ROM.
To store the BIOS • To store the bootstrap • To help start-up the smart watch // to store start-up instructions • To store the firmware • For non-volatile storage // to store data permanently • To store data/instructions that should not change (unless needed)
Describe what is meant by cloud storage
A collection of servers • Allows access to data remotely // Stores data in a remote location • Hardware can be owned/managed by a third party • Data storage that is stored/accessed using the internet
A computer has primary storage. Give one example of primary storage. Explain the purpose of your chosen example.
RAM
To store data/instruction that is currently in use • To store software/programs that are currently in use • For volatile storage // to store data temporarily • To allow data to be accessed directly by the CPU/processor // To allow data to be stored closer to the CPU/processor
ROM • To store the BIOS • To store the bootstrap/bootloader • To store start-up instructions • To store the firmware • For non-volatile storage // to store data permanently • To store data/instructions that should not change (unless needed)
Cache • To store frequently used instructions/data • For volatile storage // to store data temporarily
Identify the most suitable type of secondary storage for the smartphone. State three reasons why this type is the most suitable.
Solid state
It is small/thin in size so it would fit easily into the smartphone device
It is lightweight so it wouldn’t make the smartphone heavy to carry
It has no moving parts so it would be durable/robust if the smartphone is dropped the data is less likely to be damaged/lost
Describe three differences between solid-state and optical storage.
Solid-state has no moving parts, optical does have moving parts
Solid state storage has a large storage capacity, optical has a much smaller limit to its storage capacity
Solid-state stores data onto silicon chips/transistors using logic (floating/control/NAND/NOR) gates to control the movement of electrons, optical stores data by using lasers to burning pits and lands onto a disk
The amount of cache is increased to 64kB.
Explain how the amount of cache affects the performance of a computer.
More cache improves performance • …because more cache means the processor can access more frequently used data/instructions faster • …instead of having to access the data from the slower-access RAM
Some computers make use of virtual memory.
State the purpose of
To run programs when there is insufficient RAM to run them
To allow RAM to store more data when required
Give three disadvantages of storing the photographs in cloud storage instead of storing them locally.
May be less secure
May lose access to them if internet connection lost/not available
Reliant on a third party maintaining the hardware // by example
Could incur an extra/ongoing fee/cost
A smartwatch uses a text message application that receives data from cloud storage. Explain four benefits of the application using cloud storage.
No need to maintain the hardware the third party is responsible for maintaining the hardware / security of the data • Resources can be increased / decreased (on demand) // Can have unlimited storage capacity no need to worry about running out of storage space can save cost of purchase of hardware • Need less/no (secondary) storage space on the watch • … watch can remain/is small in size costs of watch can be kept lower • Can access the data from other/any devices if the watch breaks/is lost data is still available
State the type of secondary storage
1. Pits and lands are created on a reflective surface.
2. NAND or NOR technology is used
3. Platters are spun that are divided into tracks and sectors.
4. Electromagnets are used to read and write data.
5. Transistors are used as control gates and floating gates.
6. A red or blue laser is used to read and write data.
1. optical
2. solid-state
3. magnetic
4. magnetic
5. solid-state
6. optical
Two of the statements are not correct.
Identify the letter of each incorrect statement.
Suggest a corrected statement for each
1. PC stores the address of the next instruction to be accessed
2. MAR stores the instructions of the program that is running
3. MDR stores the data passed to it from the PC
4. ACC stores the result of each calculation
5. CIR stores the instruction currently being executed
Statement 2: MAR stores addresses and not instructions
Statement 3: Data is from bus not PC // Data is from address in MAR not PC
State two purposes of a core in the CPU.
To perform a fetch-decode-execute cycle
To process / execute an instruction
A CPU is replaced with one that has four cores. Explain the effect this has on the performance.
It may increase the performance because more instructions can be processed simultaneously
Solid‑state storage is ........................................................... . This means that the data is not lost when the power is turned off. Solid‑state storage is made of ........................................................... that are laid out in a ........................................................... .
Gates are used to control the flow of the ........................................................... through the transistors. This changes the data in the transistors from 1 to 0, or from 0 to 1.
Solid-state storage is non-volatile. This means that the data is not lost when the power is turned off. Solid-state storage is made of transistors that are laid out in a grid. Gates are used to control the flow of the electrons through the transistors. This changes the data in the transistors from 1 to 0, or from 0 to 1.
Identify all the bus that can be found in the CPU and explain its purpose in the fetch–decode–execute cycle.
Address bus Transmit / carries addresses … … between components in the CPU
Data bus Transmit / carries data … … between components in the CPU
Control bus Transmits control signals … … from the control unit to other components in the CPU
BONUS
BONUS
Give five features of magnetic storage.
Data is stored on platters − (Platters) are divided into tracks and sectors − Has components that are spun − Data is read/written using a read/write arm − Data is read/written using electromagnets − Magnetic field determines the binary value − It is non-volatile
Give five features of solid-state storage.
− Flashes data onto chips − Uses transistors − Uses NAND/NOR technology − Uses control gates − Uses flow gates − Controls the flow of electrons − It can be volatile or non-volatile