1.3.6

Computational Logic

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Binary Systems

Computer systems store and process data as binary digits.

Why use binary form?

Why use binary form?

  • Underneath the surface computers are electrical devices that process information by controlling the flow of electricity through billions of wires and transistors (electrical switches) inside the central processing unit and other components.
  • The presence of electricity represents a 1, and an absence of electricity represents a 0.
The transistor

The transistor

  • Transistors are electrical components made from semiconductor materials that can act as electrically-controlled switches.
  • Transistors can be used to temporarily store data, for example in some forms of primary storage (memory).
Transistors in the CPU

Transistors in the CPU

  • Inside a Central Processing Unit (CPU), transistors are arranged into circuits to perform operations such as calculations when electricity is passed through them.
  • For example, transistors can be arranged to form an 'adder' circuit that can accept two binary numbers, and output the sum of their values.
  • Modern CPUs contain over 3 billion transistors, allowing them to perform billions of calculations per second.

Logic Circuits

Multiple transistors can be arranged together to make logic gates and logic circuits.

Logic gates

Logic gates

  • Multiple transistors can be arranged together to form more complex "switches" that only allow electricity to flow through if all or some of the transistors are "on".
  • These arrangements are called logic gates.
Examples of logic gates

Examples of logic gates

  • The AND gate performs the boolean AND function:
    • It will only output true if both of its inputs are true.
  • The OR gate performs the boolean OR function:
    • It will output true if either or both of its inputs are true.
  • The NOT gate performs the boolean NOT function:
    • It takes one input and inverts it.
Logic circuits

Logic circuits

  • Logic gates can be combined to create complex logic circuits.
  • These logic circuits can perform functions such as adding numbers and storing data.
Jump to other topics
1

Computer Systems

1.1

Data Representation

1.1.1Binary Numbers1.1.2Negative Binary Numbers1.1.3Hexadecimal1.1.4Using Hexadecimal1.1.5Converting Binary & Hexadecimal1.1.6Converting Denary & Hexadecimal1.1.7Capacity1.1.8Calculating Capacity Requirements1.1.9Binary in Computer Systems1.1.10Data Compression1.1.11Run Length Encoding1.1.12File Formats
1.2

Data Transmission

1.2.1Packet Switching1.2.2Data Transmission1.2.3Universal Serial Bus (USB)1.2.4Parity Check1.2.5Checksum & Echo Checks1.2.6Encryption
1.3

Hardware

1.3.1Elements of Computer Systems1.3.2Types of Computer System1.3.3Von Neumann Architecture1.3.4The Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle1.3.5Factors Affecting CPU Performance1.3.6Computational Logic1.3.7Input Devices1.3.82D & 3D Scanners1.3.9Code Readers1.3.10Solid State Storage1.3.11Magnetic Storage1.3.12Examples of Magnetic Storage1.3.13Optical Storage1.3.14Examples of Optical Storage1.3.15Types of Optical disk1.3.16Storage Requirements1.3.17Translation - Compilers1.3.18Translation - Interpreters1.3.19Translation - Assemblers1.3.20Acoustic Sensors1.3.21Flow Sensors1.3.22Gas Sensors1.3.23Humidity Sensors1.3.24Infrared Sensors1.3.25Level Sensors1.3.26Light Sensors1.3.27Magnetic Field Sensors1.3.28Moisture Sensors1.3.29pH Sensors1.3.30Pressure Sensors1.3.31Proximity Sensors1.3.32Temperature Sensors1.3.33Network Hardware
1.4

Software

1.4.1Operating Systems1.4.2Interrupts1.4.3High-Level Languages1.4.4Low-Level Languages
1.5

The Internet & its Uses

1.5.1The Internet1.5.2Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)1.5.3DNS1.5.4HTML1.5.5Cookies1.5.6Web Hosting1.5.7Digital Currency
1.6

Cyber Security

1.6.1Forms of Attack1.6.2Penetration Testing1.6.3Types of Malware1.6.4How Malware Spreads1.6.5Protecting Against Malware1.6.6Information Security1.6.7Structured Query Language (SQL) Injection1.6.8Firewalls1.6.9Authentication: User Access Levels1.6.10Authentication: Passwords1.6.11Social Engineering1.6.12Phishing1.6.13Denial of Service Attacks
1.7

Automated & Emerging Technologies

1.7.1Automated Systems1.7.2Robotics1.7.3Artificial Intelligence
2

Algorithms, Programming & Logic

2.1

Algorithm Design & Problem Solving

2.1.1Computational Thinking - Abstraction2.1.2Computational Thinking - Decomposition2.1.3Computational Thinking - Algorithmic Thinking2.1.4Pseudocode2.1.5Flow Diagrams2.1.6Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm2.1.7Correcting Algorithms2.1.8Completing Algorithms2.1.9Testing2.1.10Types of Testing2.1.11Test Plans2.1.12Validation & Sanitation2.1.13Authentication & Contingencies
2.2

Programming

2.2.1Programming Fundamentals - Variables & Constants2.2.2Programming Fundamentals - Comments2.2.3Programming Fundamentals - Input & Output2.2.4Data Types2.2.5Casting2.2.6Controlling Program Flow - Sequence2.2.7Controlling Program Flow - Selection2.2.8Controlling Program Flow - Iteration2.2.9Modularity - Subroutines2.2.10Modularity - Scope2.2.11Arrays
2.3

Databases

2.3.1Structuring Data - Records2.3.2Structuring Data - Databases2.3.3SQL
2.4

Boolean Logic

2.4.1Binary Systems2.4.2Logic Circuits2.4.3Truth Tables2.4.4Evaluating Expressions2.4.5Boolean Operators2.4.6End of Topic Test - Logic

Practice questions on Computational Logic

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  1. 1
    What represents a 1 in most modern computers?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Uses of transistors in computer systems:Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Logic gates are commonly created to perform what kind of function?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Logic gates can be combined to perform actions such as:Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Why do computers use binary to represent data?Multiple choice
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Factors Affecting CPU Performance

Input Devices