Kuvempu University

Assignments for B.Sc.(IT) Course Semester I Subject: Computer Fundamentals Data Structures Using C Subject Code: BSIT 12

1. CPU consists of --------------, ------------, and ------------Ans: Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit, Memory Unit. 2. --------------- is used to store data temporarily. Ans: Random Access Memory. 3. Define bit and byte Ans: Bit The values in a binary system are the 0s and 1s and called binary digits or bits. Byte - The computers electronic circuits have only two states, on or off, and therefore can only understand 0s and 1s, which may represent such opposites as on or off, yes or no, or up or down. This is why all computers use the binary system. In order to make the bits useful, they are combined into bytes of information. 4. What is software? What are the different types of software give example. Ans: The word software represents the set of programs that are necessary for the proper functioning of the hardware units. The programs, which are nothing but the instructions, will instruct the computer to perform various arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction etc., and logical operations and how these operations are performed. The software which is used for proper functioning of the hardware is classified into two main groups: System software (Example : Operating system like Windows 8. ) Application software ( Example : Ms. Word ) 5. What is Arithmetic logic unit? Ans: This subsystem performs all arithmetic operations (such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and logical operations (such as comparisons etc). The ALU can even perform higher arithmetical functions such as roots, logarithms, trigonometric functions and their inverses. In modern systems, ALU and CU they are integrated into the processor generally called as Central Processing Unit (CPU). The ALU has:

Set of registers where the data is stored before and after execution. The registers are basically storage cells that work like RAM. Accessing registers is much faster than RAM. The word access is used to obtain the data or to store the data in the memory location specified.

The ALU circuitry is where the actual operations are being carried out. The circuitry is made up of millions of logic gates such as AND, OR and NOT gates etc., The address and data paths between registers and ALU circuitry (wires and electrical current).
6. What is cache memory? How is it different from main memory? Ans: The speed of CPU is extremely high compared to the access time of main memory. Therefore the performance of CPU decreases due to the slow speed of main memory. To decrease the mismatch in operating speed, as shown in figure 16, a small memory chip is attached between CPU and Main memory whose access time is very close to the processing speed of CPU. It is called CACHE memory. CACHE memories are accessed much faster than conventional RAM. It is used to store programs or data currently being executed or temporary data frequently used by the CPU. So each memory makes main memory to be faster and larger than it really is. It is also very expensive to have bigger size of cache memory and its size is normally kept small. 7. What is RAM? Explain the different types of RAM. Ans: The main memory is divided into a number of words. Each word is identified by a unique address. Each word in the RAM can be accessed in the same amount of time, irrespective of its physical location in the memory. So, this memory is called Random Access Memory. It is possible to read and write into the memory. Since read and write operations are allowed, this memory is called Read/Write memory. The CPU provides the address of the memory location to be accessed through a register called Memory Access Register (MAR). Then the read or write command is issued. Random access memory is classified into two types: DRAM and SRAM. Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a type of random access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. Since real capacitors leak charge, the information eventually fades unless the capacitor charge is refreshed periodically. Because of this refresh requirement, it is a dynamic memory as opposed to SRAM and other static memory. Static random access memory (SRAM) is a type of semiconductor memory where the word static indicates that, unlike dynamic RAM (DRAM), it does not need to be periodically refreshed, as SRAM uses bi-stable latching circuitry to store each bit. 8. What is machine language? Why is it required? Ans: Machine Language is the only language that is directly understood by the computer. It does not need any translator program. We also call it machine code and it is written as strings of 1s (one) and 0s (zero). When this sequence of codes is fed to the computer, it recognizes the codes and converts it in to electrical signals needed to run it. For example, a program instruction may look like this: 1011000111101 It is not an easy language for you to learn because of its difficult to understand. It is efficient for the computer but very inefficient for programmers. It is considered to the first generation language. It is also difficult to debug the program written in this language.

9. Define a program? What is programming ? Ans: As you know computer cannot do anything without instructions from the user. In order to do any specific job you have to give a sequence of instructions to the computer. This set of instructions is called a computer program. Software refers to the set of computer programs, procedures that describe the programs, how they are to be used. We can say that it is the collection of programs, which increase the capabilities of the hardware. Software guides the computer at every step where to start and stop during a particular job. The process of software development is called programming. Computer software provides the instructions that enable the computer hardware to perform its tasks. Without software, your monitor would not display anything, your speakers would remain silent, and typing on the keyboard keys would have no effect. You should keep in mind that software and hardware are complementary to each other. Both have to work together to produce meaningful result. Another important point you should know that producing software is difficult and expensive. 10. What is the difference between application software and system software? Name few application software that are commonly used. Ans: The Difference between system software and application software is that, system software can run independently of the application software, while application software cannot run without the presence of the system software. System software gets installed when the operating system is installed on the computer, while application software is installed according to the requirements of the user. A few application software that are used are Ms office, Ms paint, VLC Media Player, Google chrome, Etc., . 11. What are the major functions of Operating system? Ans: The major functions performed by Operating System are: 1. Processor management, that is, assignment of processor to different tasks being performed by the computer system. 2. Memory management, that is, allocation of main memory and other storage areas to the system programs as well as user programs and data. 3. Input/output management, that is, co-ordination and assignment of the different output and input device while one or more programs are being executed. 4. File management, that is, the storage of file of various storage devices to another. It also allows all files to be easily changed and modified through the use of text editors or some other files manipulation routines. 5. Establishment and enforcement of a priority system. That is, it determines and maintains the order in which jobs are to be executed in the computer system. 6. Automatic transition from job to job as directed by special control statements. 7. Interpretation of commands and instructions. 8. Coordination and assignment of compilers, assemblers, utility programs, and other software to the various user of the computer system. 9. Facilities easy communication between the computer system and the computer operator (human).It also establishes data security and integrity. 12. List the types of system software and their functions. Ans: The types of system software and their functions The fundamental operations of your computer are managed by the systems software. There are four types of system software.

 Operating system software controls basic input and output, allocates system resources, manages storage space, maintains security, and detects equipment failure. Utilities aid the operating system by taking over some of its responsibility for allocating hardware resources A device drive aids the computer in communicating with individual peripheral devices Computer programming languages are used by programmers to write computer instructions 13. What is the function of the system utility? Ans: System utilities are the core software functions that allow you to manage your computer in ways that you would find it inconceivable to be without. System utilities may be already included in your computer or downloaded from the Internet. No matter where you look, you can always find plenty of system utility programs at little or no cost. Example : Disk Defragment, Disk CleanUp, etc, .
14. What is computer virus? How does computer virus spread from system to system? Ans: A computer program that is planted in one computer and then transferred, hidden in useful information to one or more computers with the intension of corrupting or wiping out information in the recipient computer. 15. Name the two types of buses. Ans: There are generally two buses within a computer:

* the internal bus (sometimes called the front-side bus, or FSB for short). The internal bus allows the processor to communicate with the system's central memory (the RAM). * the expansion bus (sometimes called the input/output bus) allows various motherboard components (USB, serial, and parallel ports, cards inserted in PCI connectors, hard drives, CD-ROM and CD-RW drives, etc.) to communicate with one another. However, it is mainly used to add new devices using what are called expansion slots connected to the input/outpur bus.
16. Clock speed of computer is measured in ---------------Ans: Gigahertz (GHz)

17. What is the role of the following? a. Data Bus

A data bus is a computer subsystem that allows for the transferring of data from one component to another on a motherboard or system board, or between two computers. This can include transferring data to and from the memory, or from the central processing unit (CPU) to other components. Each one is designed to handle so many bits of data at a time. The amount of data a data bus can handle is called bandwidth.

b. Address Bus
An address bus is a computer bus (a series of lines connecting two or more devices) that is used to specify a physical address. When a processor or DMA-enabled device needs to read or write to a memory location, it specifies that memory location on the address bus (the value to be read or written is sent on the data bus). The width of the address bus determines the amount of memory a system can address. For example, a system with a 32-bit address bus can address 232 (4,294,967,296) memory locations. If each memory address holds one byte, the addressable memory space is 4 GB.

c. Registers in processors A processor register is a small amount of storage available as part of a CPU or other digital processor. Such registers are (typically) addressed by mechanisms other than main memory and can be accessed more quickly. Almost all computers, load-store architecture or not, load data from a larger memory into registers where it is used for arithmetic, manipulated, or tested, by some machine instruction. Manipulated data is then often stored back in main memory, either by the same instruction or a subsequent one. Modern processors use either static or dynamic RAM as main memory, the latter often being implicitly accessed via one or more cache levels. A common property of computer programs is locality of reference: the same values are often accessed repeatedly and frequently used values held in registers improves performance. This is what makes fast registers (and caches) meaningful.Processor registers are normally at the top of the memory hierarchy, and provide the fastest way to access data. The term normally refers only to the group of registers that are directly encoded as part of an instruction, as defined by the instruction set. However, modern high performance CPUs often have duplicates of these "architectural registers" in order to improve performance via register renaming, allowing parallel and speculative execution. Modern x86 is perhaps the most well known example of this technique.[1]Allocating frequently used variables to registers can be critical to a program's performance. This register allocation is either performed by a compiler, in the code generationphase, or manually, by an assembly language programmer.

18. What is swapping? Explain with an example Ans: Swapping is a process, which operating system uses to execute either single or multiple processes, which exceed the size of computers memory. For example, if the size of computers memory is 128 MB then in normal conditions a program of 200 MB cannot be executed because to get executed, is should be fully accommodated in computers memory and computers memory being smaller than its size, cannot accommodate it. But on the other hand, the fact is that a process called swapping makes it possible. Swapping is basically a memory management technique, in which a working area is created on the disk. This area is called swap area. 19. Define Instruction set. In brief list how data is processed. Ans: All components of microprocessor are hardware elements. You know that no hardware element can function without software. Instructions, which make these components function, as they are supposed to are called instructions set. Each microprocessor has its own instructions set.