Question 1

In classical physics, a subatomic particle, such as a photon, can be in multiple places at one time.

Accepted Answer

In classical physics, a subatomic particle is considered to have a definite position and cannot be in multiple places at once. This is known as the principle of locality. It is in quantum mechanics where the concept of superposition allows for the possibility of a particle being in multiple places at once.

Question 2

Mechanical computers such as the Mark One were used during World War I to compute trajectory tables for naval guns and torpedoes.

Accepted Answer

Mechanical computers, including devices like the Mark I, were indeed used for computing trajectory tables, but the Mark I was developed during World War II, not World War I.

Question 3

The World Wide Web is sometimes called a network of networks because it interconnects millions of other networks.

Accepted Answer

The term "network of networks" more accurately describes the Internet, not the World Wide Web. The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices, while the World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents and resources, accessible via the Internet.

Question 4

Electronic computers addressed most shortcomings of mechanical computation.

Accepted Answer

Electronic computers were able to perform calculations faster, more accurately, and could handle larger amounts of data compared to mechanical computation. They were also programmable, allowing for more versatile and complex operations. Therefore, electronic computers addressed most shortcomings of mechanical computation.

Question 5

The need or idea that motivates a request for computer processing is stated at a specific level.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The need or idea that motivates a...

Question 6

Server hardware capabilities depend on the resources being shared and the number of simultaneous users.

Accepted Answer

Server hardware capabilities are directly related to the amount of resources being shared and the number of users accessing them concurrently. The more resources required and the more users there are, the more powerful hardware is needed to accommodate the demand.

Question 7

The primary role of software is to translate users' needs and requests into CPU instructions that, when executed, produce a result that satisfies the need or request.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the primary role of software.

Question 8

A typical computer system must have much more secondary storage capacity than primary storage capacity.

Accepted Answer

This is because primary storage (RAM) is faster but more expensive and has limited capacity, while secondary storage (hard disk drive, solid state drive, etc) is slower but cheaper and can store much more data.

Question 9

Optics have little advantage over electronics in most areas of computing technology.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Optics have advantages over electronics in certain areas of computing technology, particularly in terms of speed and bandwidth. Optical fibers can transmit data at extremely high speeds and over long distances without suffering from signal degradation, while electronic circuits are limited by factors such as resistance, capacitance, and inductance. However, electronics still have advantages in other areas, such as processing power and complexity, so the choice between optics and electronics depends on the specific application.

Question 10

A URL identifies one specific WWW resource.

Accepted Answer

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is used to identify a specific resource on the World Wide Web (WWW) such as a webpage, image, video, etc. It usually consists of a protocol (such as HTTP or HTTPS), followed by the domain name and the path or location of the specific resource. So, a URL uniquely identifies a specific WWW resource.

Question 11

The Difference Engine computed logarithms by moving gears and other mechanical components.

Accepted Answer

The Difference Engine, designed by Charles Babbage in the 19th century, was a mechanical calculator that used gears and other mechanical components to compute mathematical tables, including logarithms.

Question 12

Optical processors might be easier to fabricate than current processors and are better matched to optical communication technologies.

Accepted Answer

Optical processors are better suited for optical communication technologies and they can be easier to fabricate than traditional electronic processors.

Question 13

A tablet computer is a laptop computer that emphasizes small size, reduced weight, low cost, and wireless networking and is capable of performing only light-duty tasks, such as Web browsing, e-mailing, and word processing.

Accepted Answer

A tablet computer is not a laptop computer, but rather a separate device that typically does emphasize small size, reduced weight, low cost, and wireless networking and is capable of performing only light-duty tasks, such as Web browsing, e-mailing, and word processing.

Question 14

The biggest impetus for the change to electronic computing devices came during World War I.

Accepted Answer

The biggest impetus for the change to electronic computing devices came during World War II, not World War I.

Question 15

​Some commercial computers have used quantum physics to perform data storage and computation.

Accepted Answer

Some commercial computers, such as IBM Q System One, use quantum physics to perform data storage and computation. However, these quantum computers are still in the early stages of development and are not widely used yet.

Question 16

All computers are automated computing devices, and all automated computing devices are computers.

Accepted Answer

While all computers are indeed automated computing devices, not all automated computing devices are computers. Automated computing devices can include simpler devices like calculators or embedded systems that do not qualify as computers in the full sense.

Question 17

Light can be used as a basis for computation.

Accepted Answer

Light can be used in optical computing, where light signals are used to process information instead of traditional electrical signals.

Question 18

Windows OSs tend toward an all-inclusive approach to system software, bundling most system software functions in the OS.

Accepted Answer

Windows operating systems do tend toward an all-inclusive approach, bundling most system software functions in the OS. This approach is different from that of Unix/Linux operating systems, which typically have separate software packages for different functions.

Question 19

Mechanical computation devices cannot perform complex calculations.

Accepted Answer

Mechanical computation devices, such as the abacus or mechanical calculators, can perform complex calculations, although the process may be slower and less efficient than modern electronic devices.

Question 20

A machine capable of adding whole numbers can multiply whole numbers by executing the addition function multiple times.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Multiplication is essentially repeated addition. For example, 3x4 is the same as adding 3 together 4 times: 3+3+3+3 = 12. A machine capable of adding whole numbers can therefore multiply whole numbers by executing the addition function multiple times.

Quiz 2: Introduction to Systems Architecture