CAMBRIDGE IGCSE™ & O LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE: COURSEBOOK

Chapter 3: Hardware
Discussion questions
1 The answer will depend on the students.

2 This will be an open-ended discussion.

3 The answer will depend on the students.

Questions
1 RAM

2 Control unit

3 To transmit data or signals in the fetch-execute cycle.

4 It needs it to store interim results of calculations. If it did not have the accumulator,
it would need to write and read the interim result to and from RAM each time.

5 Component Description
Program counter (PC) A register that holds the address of the next instruction to
be processed.
Memory address register (MAR) A register that stores the address of where data or an
instruction is located in RAM.
Memory data register (MDR) A register that stores data or an instruction when it is
fetched from RAM.
Control unit (CU) A component that sends signals to control the interactions
of all other components during the fetch-execute cycle.
Current instruction register (CIR) A register that holds the instruction that is currently being
processed.
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) A component that performs all calculations and logical
operations required during the fetch-execute cycle.
Accumulator (ACC) A register that is built into the ALU that is used to store the
interim results of calculations.
Address bus A bus that is used to transmit addresses within the CPU and
to, and from RAM.
Data bus A bus that is used to transmit data or instructions within the
CPU, and to and from RAM.
Control bus A bus that is used to transmit control signals that are sent by
the control unit.

6 Quad

7 4 800 000 000

8 If there are a large amount of frequently used data and instructions stored, it will take
longer for the CPU to search through the cache to find the one it is looking for.
It could be quicker in this case for the CPU to get the instruction or data from RAM,
rather than searching a large amount of data in a large cache to find it.

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Chapter 3 continued
9 There are many other example uses than those given:

Input device Description of data input Example of use

Barcode It scans a barcode so that the It is used in a supermarket to get the
scanner data stored in the barcode can be price of a product and as part of a stock
obtained. control system.
Digital camera It captures light through a lens and It is built into a mobile phone to allow
converts it into binary. the user to photograph items or people.
Keyboard It allows the user to press keys that It is one of the main methods of input
have a designated ASCII/Unicode that allows a user to type data into a
value that is converted to binary. personal computer.
Microphone It captures soundwaves and It is built into a mobile phone to capture
converts them to binary. the user’s voice so that it can be heard
by the other users.
Optical mouse It captures the light that is bounced It is one of the main methods of input
back from a laser that is shone that allows a user to select icons and
from the mouse to the surface menu options whilst using a personal
underneath, to track the mouse’s computer.
movements.
QR code It uses a sensor or a camera to It can be an application that is
scanner capture light reflected from a QR downloaded onto a mobile phone and
code and converts it to binary. used to SCAN QR codes that store
information, e.g. a website link.
Scanner (2D They use sensors to capture light It can be used to scan 3D objects to
and 3D) that is reflected from a 2D or 3D create a digital copy of them.
object and convert it to binary.
Touch screen They use pressure, conductivity or It is built into a ticket machine to allow
(resistive, light to register the touch of a user a user to select which ticket they would
capacitive and on a screen. The coordinates of the like to buy.
infra-red) touch can be calculated.

10 Output Description of data output Example of use

device
Actuator It is a component that outputs an It can be used in an automated system
action, often a type of movement, to move or turn on/off another device,
that causes another device to e.g. a light.
operate.
Digital light It is a device that uses light It can be used in a classroom to project
processing reflected from millions of little an image onto an interactive whiteboard.
(DLP) mirrors to output an image.
projector
Inkjet printer This is a device that squirts liquid It can be used in a house to print
ink from nozzles to output a photographs.
document or image.
Laser printer This is a device that uses a rotating It can be used in an office to print letters.
drum and powdered toner to
output a document.

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Chapter 3 continued
Output Description of data output Example of use
device
Light emitting This is a screen that uses LEDs as a This screen can be built into a mobile
diode (LED) backlight to output an image. phone.
screen
Liquid crystal This is a device that shines light This can be used to project an image in
display (LCD) through crystals and then through a home cinema system.
projector a lens to project an image onto a
blank wall or screen.
Liquid crystal This is a screen that shines light This can be built into a television screen.
display (LCD) through crystals to output an
screen image.
Speaker This is a device that outputs sound. This can be built into a mobile phone
so one user can hear another user’s voice
3D printer This is a device that builds layers of This can be used in medicine to create
material to output a 3D object. prosthetic limbs.

11 Input

12 Any five from:

• acoustic
• accelerometer
• flow
• gas
• humidity
• infra-red
• level
• light
• magnetic field
• moisture
• pH
• pressure
• proximity
• temperature.

13 Any valid example, such as:

a Light – To automatically turn a car’s headlights on, when it is dark.

b Magnetic field – To operate an ABS braking system in a car.

c Temperature – In a kettle, to turn off the heating element when the water is boiling.

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Chapter 3 continued
14 Any two from:
• They are more accurate than a human.
• They can monitor 24/7 as they don’t need to take a break like a human.
• Their use can mean that humans can complete other tasks that require more thought.
• Their use can stop humans getting bored doing repetitive tasks.
• Their use means that humans don’t need to go into dangerous environments
to monitor and control them.

15 It could help detect when the hard drive is falling through the air and turn the device off,
to try to help prevent damage to data.

Exam-style questions
1 a i RAM

ii Program counter / PC

iii Any three from:

• The instruction is sent to the control unit.
• The control unit decodes the instruction by converting it to binary.
• It does this using an instruction set
• … which is a set of all the commands that are understood by the CPU.

b i 2

ii Two from:
• Two instructions can be processed at the same time
• … which helps data be processed quicker by the CPU.

c i Primary

ii One mark for each type of storage:

• RAM: Programs and data that are currently is use.
• ROM: Start-up instructions, such as the BIOS.

2 One mark per each correct sensor

Scenario Most appropriate sensor

To monitor the amount of pollution in a river. pH
To count the number of competitors who finish a race. Magnetic / pressure / Infra-red
To detect a person who is approaching an automatic Infra-red
door system.

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Chapter 3 continued
3 a i Any two from:
• CD
• DVD
• Blu-ray.

ii Six from:
• A laser is directed at a reflective surface on a disk.
• The disk is spun.
• A read / write head that contains the laser is moved across the surface of
the disk.
• The laser burns pits into the surface of the disk.
• It starts at the centre of the disk and works outward in a spiral track.
• Each pit represents a binary value.

b i Any one from:

• They do not have to pay for the hardware to store the data.
• They do not have the responsibility for the security of the hardware that
stores the data.
• They can access the data and resources using different devices from anywhere
that has an Internet connection.
• They can increase and decrease the amount of storage space that they need
very easily, on demand.

ii Any two from:

• They are relying on a third party making sure that their data is safe.
If they do not do this correctly, they might put their data at risk.
• If their connection fails or is not available, they will not be able to access
their data.
• If their connection is slow, this can also mean that accessing their data is slow.

4 Any two from:

• It is a numerical.
• It uses 32 bits.
• Each section is separated using full stops / periods / dots.

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