07.02 Computing Hardware - Quiz

Section 7.2 Quiz: Computing hardware

1. What is the main advantage of using a microcontroller instead of a CPU in a mechatronic system?

   • Microcontrollers are faster than CPUs
   • Microcontrollers use less power and are designed for specific control tasks {data-correct}
   • Microcontrollers have more memory than CPUs
   • Microcontrollers can run complex operating systems

2. What does an opcode represent?

   • The speed at which a processor runs
   • A numerical code that represents a specific instruction the processor can execute {data-correct}
   • The amount of memory a processor has
   • The number of registers in a processor

3. Which of the following is NOT a typical type of processor register?

   • Accumulator
   • Program Counter
   • Instruction Register
   • Memory Bank {data-correct}

4. In the fetch-decode-execute cycle, what happens during the “decode” step?

   • The processor gets the instruction from memory
   • The processor figures out what the instruction means and what to do {data-correct}
   • The processor carries out the instruction
   • The processor moves to the next instruction

5. What type of instruction set do most microcontrollers use, and why?

   • CISC, because it has more complex instructions
   • RISC, because the simple instructions execute quickly and efficiently {data-correct}
   • Both RISC and CISC equally
   • Neither, they use a completely different system

6. If a processor has a clock speed of 16 MHz, approximately how many instruction cycles can it complete per second?

   • 16 thousand
   • 160 thousand
   • 16 million {data-correct}
   • 16 billion

7. In our SimpleProcessor example, what would happen if you executed “LOAD 25” followed by “ADD 10”?

   • The accumulator would contain 25
   • The accumulator would contain 10
   • The accumulator would contain 35 {data-correct}
   • The program would crash

8. Why might understanding instruction timing be important for mechatronic systems?

   • It helps you choose cheaper components
   • It ensures your control system can respond quickly enough for real-time requirements {data-correct}
   • It makes your code easier to read
   • It reduces the amount of memory needed