Computer systems questions and answers
Q1. What is meant by computer ‘hardware’ and ‘software’?
A1. Hardware is any piece of computing equipment you can touch. Software / programs are the instructions that make the hardware do useful things.
Q2. State two input devices and two output devices.
A2. Input devices e.g. keyboard, mouse, joystick, graphics tablet, microphone. Output devices e.g. printer, plotter, speakers, headphones.
Q3. Describe what is meant by a ‘peripheral’.
A3. Any hardware that can be connected to the CPU, usually via a port.
Q4. What does a CPU do?
A4. It’s the brain of the computer. A CPU takes instructions, processes them then outputs the results.
Q5. Where are the programs and files you are currently using held?
A5. Random Access Memory (RAM).
Q6. Explain why a printer is hardware and the web browsers Firefox, Chrome and Explorer are all software.
A6. You can actually touch a printer. You can't touch web browsers as they are programs made up of instructions.
Q7. Where are all programs, including the operating system, and all your files held in a typical computer, whether or not you are using them?
A7. Everything is usually held on a hard drive, although these days, there are other options e.g. cloud storage as with Chromebooks.
Q8. What is meant by a 'port'?
A8. A port is where you plug a device you want to use into your computer or laptop e.g. a mouse, a webcam, a printer, a camera, an MP3 player and so on. The port is connected to the CPU.
Q9. Give some examples of the names of some ports you may find on a computer or laptop.
A9. The most common ports you might find include USB ports, FireWire ports and HDMI ports.
Q10. Explain why a computer needs a hard drive.
A10. When you switch a computer off, everything in RAM disappears. You need a place to store all your personal files and applications or you will lose them every time your computer is switched off! you would have to reload your applications and redo your files.