BCS-011 solved Assignment 2014-15

Course Code : BCS-011
Course Title : Computer Basics and PC Software
Assignment Number : BCA(1)-011/Assignment/14-15
Maximum Marks : 100
Weightage : 25%
Last Date of Submission : 15th October, 2014/15th April, 2015

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Question 1: (Covers Block 1) (7×4=28 Marks)

a) Explain the terms: transistor, integrated circuit and Von Neumann Architecture in the context
of a Computer. Have the developments of very large scale integration affected the Von
Neumann Architecture? Explain your answer.

SOLUTION:

Transistor: The transistor is the primary building block of all microchips, including your CPU, and is what creates the binary 0’s and 1’s (bits) your computer uses to communicate and allows computers to deal with Boolean  logic.

Integrated circuit : Integrated circuit first introduce by Geoffrey Dummer . The IC is a package containing many circuits, pathways, transistors, and other electronic components all working together to perform a particular function or a series of functions. Integrated circuits are the building blocks of computer hardware.

Von Neumann architecture – A computer architecture conceived by mathematician John von Neumann, which forms the core of nearly every computer system in use today (regardless of size). In contrast to a Turing machine, a von Neumann machine has a random-access memory (RAM) which means that each successive operation can read or write any memory location, independent of the location accessed by the previous operation.

A von Neumann machine also has a central processing unit (CPU) with one or more registers that hold data that are being operated on. The CPU has a set of built-in operations (its instruction set) that is far richer than with the Turing machine, e.g. adding two binary integers, or branching to another part of a program if the binary integer in some register is equal to zero (conditional branch).

Von Neumann considered parallel computers but recognized the problems of construction and hence settled for a sequential system. For this reason, parallel computers are sometimes referred to as non-von Neumann architectures.

A von Neumann machine can compute the same class of functions as a universal Turing machine.

 

b) In the context of memory organsiation, what tradeoff is faced by a computer? Explain the
characteristics of primary, magnetic and optical memories. Differentiate between sequential
and random access.

SOLUTION:

c) Convert the following numbers as stated

(i) Decimal 117.0125 to binary

SOLUTION:

(ii) Decimal 2459 to hexadecimal

SOLUTION:

(iii) Character X and x to ASCII and Unicode

SOLUTION:

(iv) Decimal 3456 to binary

SOLUTION:

d) What is the need of ports in a computer system? What is the purpose of Universal Serial
Bus? Name the devices that can be connected using Universal Serial Bus.

SOLUTION:

e) Differentiate between the following:

(i) Static RAM vs Dynamic RAM

SOLUTION:

(ii) Seek time vs Latency time

SOLUTION:

f) Explain the following terms:

SOLUTION:

(i) Resolution of monitors

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(ii) Liquid Crystal Displays

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(iii) Line printers

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(iv) Workstation

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g) What are the uses of following Utility Software:

(i) Disk checkers

SOLUTION:

(ii) System restore

SOLUTION:

(iii) Disk Defragmenter

SOLUTION:

(iv) Disk Management

SOLUTION:

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Question 2: (Covers Block 2) (7×4=28 Marks)

a) Why are different software architectures developed? Explain the concept of cloud computing
giving its advantages and disadvantages.

SOLUTION:

b) Explain the Structured and modular software design paradigm with the help of an example.
How is a service (as in service oriented software paradigm) different than an object? Explain
with the help of an example.

SOLUTION:

c) Why do you need an operating system in a computer? Explain the file management, memory
management and process control management in an Operating system. List the user level
commands of any operating system for file management.

SOLUTION:

d) Draw a flow chart of a program that adds odd numbers up to 100.

SOLUTION:

e) Explain the terms: variable, data type, one dimensional array and subroutine with the help of
an example each.

SOLUTION:

f) Explain the uses and/or facilities provided by the following software:

(i) E-mail

SOLUTION:

(ii) Database Management System

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(iii)Spreadsheet

SOLUTION:

(iv) Word Processing

SOLUTION:

g) Define the following terms:

(i) Open Source

SOLUTION:

(ii) Open Source development model

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(iii)System Software

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(iv) Compiler

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(v) Device Driver

SOLUTION:

(vi) Linker

SOLUTION:

(vii) Anti-virus software

SOLUTION:

(viii) Diagnostic program

SOLUTION:

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Question 3: (Covers Block 3) (6×4=24 Marks)

(a) What is a data communication system? Explain the characteristics of various communication
media.

SOLUTION:

(b) Compare and contrast the characteristics of LAN, MAN and WAN.

SOLUTION:

(c) Explain the following terms in the context of Internet.

(i) TCP

SOLUTION:

(ii) IP Address

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(iii) URL

SOLUTION:

(iv) DNS

SOLUTION:

(v) Subnet mask

SOLUTION:

(vi) Gateway

SOLUTION:

(vii) Switch

SOLUTION:

(viii) HTTP

SOLUTION:

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