Brain vs CPU
It handles movement, coordination, and balance. It makes sure your body responds the right way. This is similar to the ALU in a CPU, which does all the calculations and logic to help the computer "move" and solve problems.
Cerebellum
You double-click a game icon. What is the first step the CPU takes to begin running it?
Fetching the instruction?
(6 + 3) × 2 = ?
18
You get a text notification and open it. What sequence of steps does the CPU go through to make this happen—from receiving the message to displaying it on the screen?
Fetch → Decode → Execute; processing the notification, identifying the app, displaying content.
In what way is the CPU’s fetch-decode-execute cycle similar to how the brain responds to a situation?
Just like the CPU fetches instructions, decodes them, and carries them out, the brain collects information (like seeing a ball), understands what it means, and then tells the body how to react (like moving out of the way).
This part of the CPU directs all the operations of the computer.
Control Unit
After the CPU fetches an instruction, what must it do next to figure out what action to take?
Decoding the instruction.
20 - (3 × 4) = ?
8
You press “Save” on a school project. What does the CPU need to do to take your work and store it safely?
Executes instructions to convert the data, sends it to storage, uses registers for temporary values.
Why can the CPU be compared to the brain when it comes to making decisions?
Because the CPU’s Control Unit makes decisions about what tasks to perform next, just like the brain’s cerebrum helps you decide what to do in different situations.
These are small, high-speed storage locations used to temporarily hold data.
Registers
The CPU has understood the instruction to play a sound. What is the final step to actually make it happen?
Executing the instruction
(12 ÷ 3) + (4 × 2) = ?
12
You have multiple apps open, and you switch between them. How does the CPU manage where you left off in each app?
Stores current data in registers or memory, pauses instructions for one app, starts decoding and executing the other.
Which CPU component would you compare to the brain’s role in holding thoughts temporarily?
Registers – they store information the CPU is currently using, just like short-term memory in the brain.
It is the largest part of the brain. It helps you think, make decisions, and understand information. This is similar to the Control Unit in the CPU, which decides what to do with the instructions and directs the other parts to act.
Cerebrum
You're playing a racing game, and your car accelerates when you press a key. Which CPU component calculates the new speed?
Arithmetic Logic Unit
(5 × 2) + 7 = ?
17
You’re gaming and suddenly press the “jump” button. How does the CPU respond so quickly to your action?
It fetches the input, decodes the function assigned to the key, and executes the jump animation using the ALU for logic.
What part of the brain is like the CPU because it controls everything we do?
The cerebrum – like the CPU, it controls thinking and decisions.
Just like a computer needs a CPU, this organ is the control center of the human body.
The Brain
You minimize one app and open another. The CPU needs to temporarily store data from the first app. Where is this data stored?
Registers
[(10 ÷ 2) + (4 × 3)] - 1 = ?
17
You type a math problem into a calculator app: (6 × 5) + 4. Which component is responsible for solving this, and how is the result handled?
The ALU handles the math, the registers hold temporary results (like 30), and the final answer is displayed through Execute.
Which part of the brain helps with movement and coordination, similar to how the ALU does calculations and logic?
The cerebellum – it controls movement like the ALU processes logic and math.