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A company is developing a computer for use in schools - Edexcel - GCSE Computer Science - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 4
A company is developing a computer for use in schools. All computers have a CPU, memory and storage. (i) Identify the type of physical storage that uses electronic... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A company is developing a computer for use in schools - Edexcel - GCSE Computer Science - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the type of physical storage that uses electronic circuits.
Answer
The type of physical storage that uses electronic circuits is A Solid state. Solid-state storage is composed of flash memory chips and has no moving parts, which allows for faster access speeds and greater durability.
Step 2
State what ROM and RAM store.
Answer
ROM (Read-Only Memory) stores firmware and permanent data that should not change and is crucial for booting the computer and initializing hardware. RAM (Random Access Memory) stores data that is actively used and processed by programs while the computer is running, allowing for quick read and write access.
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Describe how the operating system uses scheduling to allocate processor time.
Answer
The operating system employs a scheduling algorithm to allocate processor time among various processes based on criteria such as priority and process state. For instance, it keeps processes in a queue and prioritizes them. Processes are switched in and out of the CPU on each clock cycle, allowing for efficient multitasking. This ensures that all processes receive a fair share of processing time.
Step 6
Identify the function of utility software.
Answer
The function of utility software is to assist in the maintenance and management of the computer. For example, option A Repairing secondary storage identifies a function of utility software like disk repair tools, which help to optimize and recover storage devices.