Chapter 3: Hardware: Answers to

coursebook questions and tasks and to

Worksheet questions
Syllabus section covered: 3.1

From the coursebook

Question 3.01
Some possible answers are given below.
• The buffer controlled by a media player when bit streaming is being used.
• The buffer used by a print server to store incoming print files.
• The MDR in a processor.
• In packet switching when incoming packets are stored in a buffer until the complete message has been
received.
• At a connection to a network either when data is being transmitted or when data is being received.

Extension question 3.01

There is no one definitive answer here. There must be examples of magnetic, optical and solid-state devices.
There must be a distinction between built-in and external devices. Only magnetic disk or solid-state should be
suggested for internal storage but some learners might include a ROM chip as an example. A USB is not a storage
device but is a technology associated with connecting a storage device.

Extension question 3.02

Again, there is no one definitive answer here. The question is quite open-ended. Some learners might focus on
the distinction between a touch screen and a non-touch screen or consider the options for touch-screen
technology. Other learners might consider how a cursor could be made to move. Alternatively, some learners
might consider the use of typical screen elements, such as buttons and drop-down lists.

Exam-style Questions
1 a RAM is volatile (1), nothing stored when system is switched off (1), can write to RAM (1), so data can be
updated or deleted (1).
Random access (1), data can be read (1).
D stands for dynamic, which in this context means that there has to be regular recharging to maintain the
data stored (1). S stands for static, which has no such requirement (1). No marks for discussing cost,
access time or capacity.

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 b Moving parts in magnetic or optical (1), concentric tracks for magnetic or spiral track for optical (1), solid-
state is a form of EEPROM or all data has to be deleted before new data is added to a block (1).
Magnetic and optical use sectors (1), direct or random access (1), need compensation for variation in
speed across the radius (1). (max 2)
2 a i 1 mark each for any of the following up to a maximum of 4: Key matrix of wires (1), key press causes
contact at an intersection (1), built-in microprocessor (1), detects closed circuit (1), ROM stores
data (1) that can be used to identify which key pressed (1), creates a character code (1), which is sent
to the processor (1).
ii Possible marks up to a maximum of 2: descriptions of a screen display for entering text (1), use of
voice recognition software (1), a text file being read by a program (1).
b i Any three from the following in correct order:
• The drum is given an electric charge (1).
• The drum starts to revolve step by step (1).
• At each step, a laser beam is directed by the mirror and lens assembly to a sequence of positions
across the width of the drum (1).
• At each position, the laser is either switched off to leave the charge on the drum or switched on to
discharge the position (1).
• This process repeats until a full-page electrostatic image has been created (1).
ii Any two from the following in correct order:
• The drum is coated with a charged toner, which only sticks to positions where the drum has
been discharged (1).
• The drum rolls over a sheet of paper, which is initially given an electric charge (1).
• The sheet of paper is discharged and then is passed through heated rollers to fuse the toner
particles and seal the image on the paper surface (1).
• The drum is discharged before the process starts again for the next page (1).
iii Process is repeated for each colour (1), colour toners used (1). (max 1)
3 a 1 mark each for any of the following up to a maximum of 4: Surface rays (1), grid (1) of emitters and
detectors (1). Finger interrupts beam (1), change in signal from detector to processor (1), processor
calculates coordinates of touch (1). (Max 4)
b 1 mark each for any of the following up to a maximum of 4: A generalisation would describe circuitry (1)
being immediately underneath the screen (1), and a change in electrical state (1) caused by the touch (1).
Marks would be available for a generalised description or for a specific technology. Can get repeat marks
for the involvement of the processor. (Max 4)
4 This is Question 1 in 9608 Paper 12 November 2015. At the time of writing the published mark scheme is
available on the Cambridge International School Support Hub (requires registration). The Examiners Report
for the November 2015 series is also available there and this may contain comments specific to this question.
The following are what the author of this chapter in the Teacher Resource would suggest as reasonable
answers with alternatives suggested where appropriate. Where a suggested answer includes bullet points,
each bullet point would be worth one mark up to the maximum mark allocation for the question.
a Because there is only 1 mark for each, a single word answer is sufficient.
• Hard disk uses a magnetic medium.

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 • DVD-RW uses an optical medium.
• Flash memory uses a solid state medium.
b The way the question is worded means that the answer given for DVD-RW does not have to be entirely
different to the answer given for DVD-RAM. However, it is sensible to attempt to avoid duplication in the
answer. The following statements could be made about either device:
• The disc spins when in use.
• Laser light is shone onto the spinning disc.
• When data is being read from an individual position on the track on the disc the light is either
reflected or not reflected.
• The detection or otherwise of the reflected light is interpreted as either a 1 or a 0.
• When data is being written high intensity laser light is used, which causes a phase change.
• Different phases have different reflectivity.
DVD-RW
• There is a single spiral track on the disc.
• The position of the laser moves so that the light follows the track on the disc.
• The speed of rotation of the disc continually changes.
• This ensures that the linear speed remains unchanged while the laser beam follows the track.
DVD-RAM
• There are concentric tracks on the disc.
• The disc rotates at constant speed.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9608 paper 12 Q1 November 2015
5 This is Question 6 in 9608 Paper 12 November 2016. At the time of writing the published mark scheme is
available on the Cambridge International School Support Hub (requires registration). The Examiners Report
for the November 2016 series is also available there and this may contain comments specific to this question.
The following are what the author of this chapter in the Teacher Resource would suggest as reasonable
answers with alternatives suggested where appropriate. Where a suggested answer includes bullet points,
each bullet point would be worth one mark up to the maximum mark allocation for the question.
a For each answer there should be one sentence that includes a statement about RAM and a corresponding
statement about ROM. Three possible answers are:
• RAM is volatile whereas ROM is non-volatile. As an alternative, this could be explained as RAM loses
data when the power is removed but ROM stores the data when the power is removed.
• RAM can be read or written to, whereas ROM can only be read.
• RAM is used for storing programs and data currently in use during the normal operation of the
computer system. In contrast, ROM stores the BIOS used in the bootstrap program that executes
when the computer is switched on.
b Some possible answers are:
• SRAM has a faster rate of access to the data stored than DRAM.
• SRAM stores data in flip-flops whereas DRAM stores data in capacitors.

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 • The capacitors in DRAM need regular re-charging during use but the flip-flops in SRAM do not need
re-charging.
• SRAM has more components than DRAM.
• Because of the fewer components, DRAM is cheaper to manufacture than SRAM.
• Because of the fewer components, DRAM provides higher density storage of bits on a chip than
SRAM.
• DRAM is the normal choice for main memory whereas SRAM is the normal choice for cache memory.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9608 paper 12 Q6 November 2016

Worksheet 3.1: for testing basic understanding

1 a, b Virtually obsolete, magnetic storage with one
Floppy disk
platter, portable
Magnetic storage with several platters,
normally the built-in main secondary storage
Hard disk
device but can be attached as a peripheral, in
which case it is portable
CD
Optical storage, portable, may be read only (e.g.
DVD
CD-ROM) or re-writable, portable
BD (Blu-ray disc)
Electronic storage, no moving parts, may be
SSM (solid state memory or built-in main secondary storage but usually
‘flash’ memory) attached as a peripheral in the form of a
memory stick attached to a USB port
Serial access medium used for backup in large
Magnetic tape (reel or cassette)
computer systems

2 Component Category
B G
D A
C A
F E
The only storage elements within the processor are the registers. Cache memory is considered to be part of
the primary storage. It is best to consider primary storage and memory as being different names for the same
thing. Note also the use of Immediate Access Store, which includes main memory and cache memory.
3 RAM is a A component that can be directly accessed and can be D. It is E which means that all data H if the
system is switched off. ROM is a A component that can be directly accessed and can be C. It is F which means
that all data G if the system is switched off.
It is best to refer to RAM and ROM as memory rather than storage devices, even though data is stored in
them during use. It is important to learn to use the terms volatile and non-volatile correctly. It might be
helpful to remember that a volatile liquid is one that easily evaporates and, therefore, ‘disappears’.
4 B and D

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 It is normal for a hard disk to have more than one platter but not so many as there were in the early days of
use. Despite there being only one track, a CD-ROM still has this track divided into sectors so direct-access is
possible.

5 a, b Direct access, can be written to or read from,

Random access memory (RAM) used as main memory, volatile–when the system
is switched off, no data is stored
A particular type of RAM that uses flip-flops so
data is stored for as long as the system is
Static RAM (SRAM)
switched on, faster access, used for cache
memory
A particular type of RAM that is usually used for
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
main memory, needs regular re-charging
Direct access but can only be read from, used for
Read-only memory (ROM) software that does not need to be changed such
as the boot program
PROM These are the options available when the ROM is
EPROM being created by the manufacturer. Once
installed in a computer system these operate as
EEPROM
pure and simple ROM

Note that colour light emission from a screen is based on the red, green and blue primary colours. Colour
printing is based on the cyan, magenta and yellow secondary primaries.
7 Both systems are based on a two-dimensional array where each element of the array can be distinguished.
For a keyboard there is, underneath, a matrix of wires. A key press identifies a unique intersection between
two wires by closing a circuit. The specific closed circuit is recognised by the built-in processor, allowing it to
transmit the appropriate character to the CPU. A resistive touch screen works in a similar way, with the touch
pushing two layers together and defining a specific point of contact. A projective capacitive touch screen
closely resembles this because of the grid of devices under the screen surface.
Note that the use of a mouse or rollerball does not fit the description here because the detection of position
is activated in the mouse or rollerball. Furthermore, it is only used relative to an arbitrarily defined starting
position.
8 A microphone receives sound input, so it is an input device. The sound input is converted to an electrical signal
which is output, so a microphone is also an output device. However, this electrical signal could be taken as input
by a computer system. Therefore, from the point of view of the computer, the microphone is an input device.

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 A speaker also has input and output. It takes an electrical signal as input and converts this to sound output.
Because the electrical signal could have been an output from a computer system, it is classified as a computer
output device.

Worksheet 3.2: more challenging questions

1 The magnetic hard disk has the storage capacity in concentric tracks; the optical disc has one spiral track. For
either case, a track is divided into sectors. Each sector contains data plus additional components to ensure
data integrity. The drive that houses a hard disk or a CD-ROM has a mechanism for moving the read or write
mechanism to position it at the start of a specific sector. The device driver needs software that allows data
defined in a file by the operating system to be related to the data stored in a sector or in several sectors on
the hard disk or optical disc.
a Resistive
Capacitive
Surface Acoustic Wave
Infrared
b A touch screen detects position on the screen directly when a pointing device, such as a finger, touches or
comes near to it. The detection process involves a mechanism that can operate in front of or behind the
screen. Detection in front of the screen is based on the pointing device interrupting transmission.
c A resistive screen is flexible, and has two thin layers separated by a thin space behind it. When a finger
touches the screen, the pressure forces the topmost layer to touch the other. The layers have electrical
contacts along one pair of opposing sides, with one one pair of connected sides perpendicular to the pair
on the other layer. Voltage is applied to one of the layers and this is detected by the other layer when the
screen is touched.
A capacitive screen requires the use of a finger or some special device but not a standard stylus.
Underneath the screen is an electrically charged layer. When the finger touches the screen, some of this
charge is attracted towards the finger. Electrical circuits around the edge of the charged layer detect a
change in voltage, allowing the position to be identified. Note that there are a number of distinct
capacitive technologies. This is a simplified description.
One type of acoustic screen has ultrasonic waves passing over the screen surface, which are interrupted
by the pointing device. An infrared screen is similar but uses infrared waves. These are emitted across the
surface of the screen continuously. Detection behind the screen requires suitable electronic circuitry.

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