touque.ca > Education Commons

Lifting the Lid: How Computers Work

Part 1: Computer Components

  1. The video introduces input and output devices. List three examples of each.
  2. What is the general term that applies to all of these devices?
  3. What is an earthing lead used for and how is it attached?
  4. What does CPU stand for? What is it also known as?
  5. Why does the CPU have its own fan?
  6. What does the term RAM stand for?
  7. What does the term BIOS stand for?
  8. What is the role of BIOS? Why is it important for it to keep its memory after the computer is switched off?
  9. How does BIOS maintain its memory when the computer is switched off?
  10. What are two types of cards illustrated in the video?
  11. Which card makes use of the AGP slot on the motherboard?
  12. Which card makes use of the PCI slot on the motherboard?
  13. What does the term ROM stand for?
  14. Describe one type of removable storage.
  15. Describe the role of the hard drive.
  16. List a device that uses a Firewire connection. What is the advantage for this device in using the Firewire connection?
  17. How is data stored on a CD-ROM?
  18. What type of mechanism or device is used to read the data from a CD?

Part 2: How Computers Work

  1. How many digits are in the binary system?
  2. Write down the digits that make up the binary system.
  3. Use binary to write the equivalent to the decimal numbers 1 to 10.
  4. What is the decimal equivalent of 1111 in binary?

Part 3: The Peripherals

  1. Describe how a mouse works.
  2. What is a pixel?
  3. Describe how a monitor uses pixels to create an image.
  4. Draw a diagram of the internal mechanism of a hard drive and use it to describe how a hard drive works.
  5. Why do we need to format a disc for use in a computer?

Part 4: Bits and Bytes

  1. Describe how RAM works.
  2. What does the term serial access mean and how does it compare with random access?
  3. How many bits in a byte?
  4. How many bytes in a megabyte?
  5. How many bits in a gigabyte?
  6. What are the basic functions of the CPU?
  7. Why is binary code suitable for use with computers?
  8. What is the most basic computer language called?
  9. What is the role of the clock in a computer? What units are clock speeds measured in?
  10. Does the clock speed fully determine the relative speed of the computer? Explain your answer.

NB: Video segments retrieved 2016-03-06 from <http://www.films.com/id/5115>.

touque.ca > Education Commons

[This page last updated 2020-12-23 at 12h45 Toronto local time.]

red horizontal rule
© 2007–2022 Hersch, Bear & Company Limited. All rights reserved. “Grammar Authority,” “grammarauthority.com,” “touque.ca,” and “Canada’s Thinking Cap” are trademarks of Hersch, Bear & Company Limited. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Privacy Policy | Licence to Copy | How to cite | Contact us