BASICS
What is a transistor compared to?
A brick (the building block of a chip).
In binary language, what does "1" represent?
Current is running (On).
What is the CPU's main role?
It is the "Brain" of the computer (Processing data).
In binary language, what does "0" represent?
Current is blocked (Off).
What does Moore’s Law predict?
Computing power doubles every 2 years.
When was Moore’s Law first proposed?
1965
What was the first Intel microprocessor (1971)?
Intel 4004
Is Moore’s Law a physical law of nature?
No, it is an empirical observation/business trend.
How many transistors can fit on a human hair today?
Thousands.
What is the main benefit of shrinking transistors?
Higher density and faster operation.
What unit is used to measure modern transistors?
Nanometers (nm).
What material is the "wafer" of a chip made of?
Silicon.
What is a major challenge of having billions of transistors?
Overheating (Extreme Heat).
What is "Thermal Throttling"?
Automatic slowdown of the CPU to prevent melting.
What process is used to etch patterns on silicon?
Photolithography
Why has Moore’s Law slowed down today?
Because of physical limits of atoms and high costs.
What do 3D structures in microelectronics allow?
Stacking components on top of each other.
How do 3D structures reduce "Latency"?
By creating shorter physical paths for signals.
Why is energy efficiency critical today?
For mobile devices and massive data centers.
What is the future of chips after Silicon?
Quantum computing or Photonic (light) chips.