Module 3: Hardware
Week of Tue, Sep 8 · module closes Sun, Sep 13 · 70 points
By the end of this lesson you can:
- →Explain how the fundamental components of computer systems interact to perform essential functions.
- →Compare and contrast types of computers and application software.
Take Meerk's quiz for Module 3
This module's items
- Hardware Assignment50 pts
- Module 3 Quiz20 pts
Exact due times are in Canvas. Late assignments are not accepted and extensions will not be granted.
Know these cold
- The CPU (central processing unit) executes instructions. Its control unit fetches and decodes; its arithmetic logic unit (ALU) does the math and comparisons.
- CPU speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz) — billions of cycles per second. More cores let the CPU work on more tasks at once.
- RAM (random access memory) is fast, temporary working memory. It is volatile — everything in it disappears when the power goes off. More RAM = more programs open without slowing down.
- Storage is permanent (non-volatile): hard disk drives (spinning platters, cheap, large), solid-state drives (flash memory, fast, no moving parts), USB flash drives, optical discs, and cloud storage.
- Units: 8 bits = 1 byte. 1 KB ≈ 1,000 bytes; 1 MB ≈ 1,000 KB; 1 GB ≈ 1,000 MB; 1 TB ≈ 1,000 GB. A photo is a few MB; a movie is a few GB.
- The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects CPU, RAM, storage, and ports. The power supply converts wall power to the low-voltage DC the parts need.
- Input devices: keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, microphone, camera, scanner. Output devices: monitor, printer, speakers, projector. Some are both (touchscreen, headset).
- Ports and connections: USB (most peripherals), HDMI (video), Ethernet (wired network), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (wireless), Thunderbolt/USB-C (fast data and charging).
- Moore's Law: the number of transistors on a chip roughly doubles every two years — why devices keep getting faster, smaller, and cheaper.
- Module 3 items: Hardware Assignment (50) and Module 3 Quiz (20).
Meerk's quiz — open the Module 3 gate
10 questions, no time limit. 85% on your first attempt in a 24-hour window opens the gate. Retakes inside the window are practice — they help you learn, they don't count. Work alone; the point is to know it, not to have seen it.
Stuck?
Raise your hand. Mr. James gets a message right away and can help you remotely. Nothing else is stored — just your last name, grade, and where you're stuck.
Dinner Table Question
Ask at home: What is the difference between memory (RAM) and storage on the device you use most?
En español: ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la memoria (RAM) y el almacenamiento en el dispositivo que más usas?