CL C1 History

What was one of the earliest uses of the Harvard Mark I computer?

• Running simulations for the Manhattan Project

• Calculating weather patterns

• Managing financial transactions

• Predicting stock market trends

How many components did the Harvard Mark I contain?

• 500,000

• 765,000

• 1,000,000

• 1,500,000

Explain why vacuum tubes were an improvement over mechanical relays in computers.

• They were cheaper and more durable.

• They had no moving parts and could switch faster.

• They were easier to repair.

• They consumed less power.

What was the main limitation of relays in early computers like the Harvard Mark I?

• They were too expensive.

• They were too slow and prone to wear and tear.

• They consumed too much power.

• They were difficult to program.

Describe the function of a relay in an early computer.

• It stores data for processing.

• It acts as a switch to open or close a circuit.

• It powers the computer.

• It connects the computer to the internet.

What was the significance of the Colossus Mk 1 computer?

• It was the first computer to use transistors.

• It was the first programmable, electronic computer.

• It was the first computer to use integrated circuits.

• It was the first computer to be used in space.

How did the invention of the transistor change computing?

• It made computers larger and more expensive.

• It allowed computers to be smaller, cheaper, and more reliable.

• It increased the power consumption of computers.

• It made computers slower but more accurate.

What was the main advantage of the ENIAC over previous computers?

• It was the first computer to use a graphical user interface.

• It could perform calculations much faster than any previous machine.

• It was the first computer to connect to the internet.

• It was the first computer to use a mouse.

Compare the switching speed of a relay to that of a vacuum tube.

• Relays switch faster than vacuum tubes.

• Vacuum tubes switch faster than relays.

• Both have the same switching speed.

• Neither can switch at a measurable speed.

What problem did the invention of the transistor solve in computing?

• It reduced the need for human operators.

• It solved the problem of unreliable and slow mechanical relays.

• It eliminated the need for electricity in computers.

• It allowed computers to be used underwater.