A workshop has a lot of heavy machinery operating throughout the day and requires a cable to connect a workstation to a switch. Which of the following, unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or shielded twisted pair (STP) cable, would be the more suitable? Justify your response.
Shielded twisted pair cable:
A twisted pair cable is made up of four pairs of twisted copper wires, a shielded twisted pair cable applies a shield to each one of the pairs on a cable or to all of the pairs together. This shield can reduce EMI (electromagnetic interference), which would be emitted from heavy machinery. This increased data transmission quality in the workshop. STP can also reduce crosstalk.
A sound engineer is recording a singer. Describe why the sound must be converted to a digital format before it can be stored on a computer system
What is a backup?
A backup is a copy of data that can be used if the original data is lost.
Describe what is meant by a MAC address.
Explain the Fetch – Execute cycle and provide an example of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) component for each stage of the cycle
The Fetch – Execute cycle is a sequence of actions, performed by the processor as it fetches
a program instruction from its memory, determines what the instruction wants to do and
carries out those actions. The stages of the cycle are provided below.
Identify which processor in the PC systems below is likely to process instructions more efficiently. Justify your answer.
Describe how the database can be recovered from a system failure
Give four features of a Data Protection Act
Define the term ‘outsourcing’.
Distinguish between real time processing and interactive processing
Explain how the operating system performs job/process scheduling/management
One characteristic of a robot is its mechanical structure.
State two other characteristics of a robot
State advantages of hardcopy output
Identify and describe four roles of the operating system when managing the resources of a personal computer.
Manages memory (RAM)
Ensures programs/data do not corrupt each other: Ensures all programs and data including itself is stored in correct memory locations
Manages processes: Ensures different processes can utilise the CPU and do not interfere with each other or crash •
Allows a user to run programs : On a multi-tasking O/S ensure that all tasks appear to run simultaneously
Fibre optic cable is available in either single-mode or multi-mode. Outline the characteristics of each mode.
When a new student is enrolled, a new record is added to the file immediately. The examination grades of all students are updated twice a year. Discuss the processing implications of these two requirements.
Enrolment:
- Data input on line
- Individual records validated
- Speed mismatch implications
- Indexes updated immediately
Exam grades:
- Data input twice
- Off line
- Run as a batch
- At otherwise downtime
A typical computer’s main memory consists of both volatile and non-volatile memory.
a) i) Explain what is meant by the term volatile memory (1mark)
ii) What is normally stored in the non-volatile part of a computer’s main memory (1mark)
b) Explain why having cache memory can improve the performance of the CPU (2mks)
State four data types used in MS Excel
What is a computer system ?
A computer system refers to computer components that collectively function as a single unit to achieve the desired goal. It can also be defined as a collection of hardware, software, and liveware that work together to receive, process, and manage data