Hardware & Software

Solved Question Answers

1) What is computer hardware? Give examples.

Ans: Computer hardware is the physical parts that make up the entire computer system. All the I/O devices including processing device are the examples of hardware. In other words, hardware can be defined as the physical parts of the computer that can be seen and touched.

Examples of hardware are; monitor, speaker, printer, keyboard, mouse, etc.

2) What is a microprocessor? List the two basic components of microprocessor with its major function. 

Ans: Microprocessor is a very complex integrated circuit, containing millions of miniaturized electronic components. 
The two basic components of microprocessor with their major function are given below. 

• Control Unit

 The control unit works just like as the nervous system of human body. It follows the data and instructions given by the user through the signal to entire computer system. The major function of control unit is to control the entire computer system by sending and receiving the signals. 

• Arithmetic and Logic Unit

The Arithmetic and Logic unit is used to perform all the mathematical calculations and for reasoning a logical answers. All the mathematical calculations and logical comparisons are passed out to the different output devices through the ALU. 

3) What is a computer memory? List out its types.

Ans: Computer memory is a computer hardware that stores data, instructions or programs either temporarily or permanently in its devices as per the user requirements. 

Types of computer memory are listed below. 

• Primary Memory
• Cache Memory
• Secondary Memory

4) What is a cache memory?

Ans: Cache memory is the type of computer memory which stores data temporarily and is placed in between the CPU and RAM. It is one of the high speed memory. Its main function is to increase the performance of a microprocessor so that the computer can perform its task more effectively and efficiently with a great high speed.

5) What is an input device? State any three basic functions of input device.

Ans: An input device is the computer hardware that takes in data and programs, instructions and converts them into digital form.

Functions of an input device are given below.

• To accept data from the outside world.
• To convert data and instructions into binary code which is understood by the computer.
• To send binary codes to processing unit for further processing. 

6) What roles do the output devices play in a computer?

Ans: Roles that an output device play in a computer are listed below. 

• It accepts the data in a binary form from the computer.
• It convert coded data into human understandable form.
• It supplies the converted results to the outside world.

7) State the functions of control unit.

Ans: The functions of control unit are given below. 

• The control unit sends the input from the input device to the primary memory.
• It helps to send the raw data to the ALU for further processing.
• It interprets the instructions in the program.
• It sends the meaningful information from the primary memory to the output unit. 

8) Write the differences between primary memory and secondary memory of computer.

Ans: The differences between primary memory and secondary memory of computer are given below.

•  Primary memory is the main memory of computer which is directly attached to the motherboard of computer whereas the secondary memory is an auxiliary memory which is accessed by CPU via an interface.
• Primary memory is also known as Internal memory of computer whereas secondary memory is also known as external memory of computer. 
• Primary memory has fast access time whereas secondary memory has got slow access time.
• Primary memory has got less storage capacity compared to secondary memory.
• Primary memory has got two types i.e. RAM & ROM whereas secondary memory can be categorized into different types.
• Among types of primary memory RAM is volatile and ROM is non-volatile in nature whereas all the secondary memory are non-volatile in nature.

9) What is a software? Write its types.

Ans: Software is the set of electronic instructions consisting of complex codes in a sequence order that makes the computer perform certain tasks. In another word, it can be defined as the non-physical part of computer that can not be seen and touched but can be feel. 

There are two different types of software and they are;

• System software
• Application software

10) What is system software? Name the different types of system software.

Ans: System software is an indispensable part of a whole computer system that is designed to control and manage the operations inside a computer system.

Types of system software are listed below.

• Operating System Software (OSS)
• Device drivers
• Utility software
• Language translators

11) What is a device driver?

Ans: Device driver is the type of system software and the collection of a computer program that allows the other programs to interact with the different computer hardware.

12) What is utility program? Name some utility programs.

Ans: Utility program is the type of system software designed to perform repair and maintenance work on the system or on system components. 

Some utility programs are; Text editors, Memory clump programs, Antivirus software, etc.

13) What is a language translator program? Name the three different type of language translator program.

Ans: Language translator program is the type of system software that translates the program written in any other languages into machine level language. In another word it can be defined as a computer program that converts the programming instructions written in human convenient form into machine language codes that computers understand and process. 

Three different types of language translator program are given below. 

• Assembler
• Compiler
• Interpreter

14) What is an operating system? List out its functions.

Ans: An operating system is the type of system software which is also known as the master controller for all the activities that take place within a computer system. An operating system is a computer program that acts as an interface between the software and the computer hardware. On the basis of user interface there are two different types of operating system software and they are GUI based OSS and CUI/CLI based OSS. 

The functions of Operating System Software are listed below. 

• Memory management
• Processor management
• Device management
• File management
• Controls overall system performance.
• Helps to install & run application programs.
• Prevents unauthorized access to programs and data by means of password

15) Why is an operating system required in computer?

Ans: An operating system software is required in computer to control the overall operations of a computer, direct the input and output of data, keep track of files and control the processing of a computer programs. An operating system software is also termed as the soul of computer.

16) What is a compiler?

Ans: Compiler is the type of language translator program that translates the program written in high level language or the human convenient language into machine codes i.e. binary digits (0 & 1) in a single operation.

17) What is a assembler? 

Ans: Assembler is the type of language translator program that translates the program written in assembly language into machine codes i.e. binary digits (0 & 1).

18) What is an interpreter?

Ans: An interpreter is the type of language translator program that translates the program written in high level language or the human convenient language into machine codes i.e. binary digits (0 & 1) by translating one statement at a time. 

19) What are the differences between Interpreter and Compiler?

Ans: The differences between Interpreter and Compiler are given below. 

• Interpreters are simple and easy to handle whereas Compiler are highly complex and difficult to operate. 
• Interpreter requires less memory space whereas Compiler requires large memory space.
• Interpreter take less time to translate the program whereas Compiler requires more time than of Interpreters to translate the given program.
• Interpreters translate the program sentence by sentence whereas the Compiler translates the whole program in a single operation. 

20) What is an application software? Write its types.

Ans: An application software is the type of computer software or a program designed to help the user in performing a certain type of work. 

Types of application software are given below. 

• Customized/ Tailored Software
• Packaged Software

21) Define customized/tailored software. Give any two examples. 

Ans: Customized / Tailored software are the type of application software that has been designed and developed to meet the user's requirements. 

Any two examples of customized / tailored software are; Payroll system, Finance accounting software designed for certain organization etc.

22) Define packaged software. Give any two examples. 

Ans: Packaged software are the type of application software that consists of one or more programs to perform a particular type of task. These type of software are designed and developed to be used by an entire people in the world. 

Any two examples of packaged software are; Microsoft Office Packages, Multimedia Software, etc.