Fundamentals of computer systems: Hardware and software

PAPER 2 - ⇑ Fundamentals of computer systems ⇑

Relationship between hardware and software Classification of software →


Hardware - Physical components that make up a computer system
Software - Computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling computer hardware what to do and how to do it


Hardware and Software have a symbiotic relationship, this means that without software hardware is very limited; and without hardware, software wouldn't be able to run at all. They need each other to fulfill their potential.

Standard hardware components The relationship between Hardware and Software
Hardware of a modern personal computer, can you name all the components?
A layer structure showing the relationship between various layers of software and hardware
Exercise: Hardware and Software

Define Hardware:

Answer:

Physical components that make up a computer system.

Define Software:

Answer:

Computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling computer hardware what to do and how to do it.

Give names to all the numbered hardware components above:

Give 2 examples of software:

Answer:


  • Word Processor
  • Operating System
  • Game
  • Spreadsheet
  • Virus Scanner
  • etc

NOTE: If you mentioned a brand name such as Windows TM, you get no marks, the exam wants software types meaning you should have written Operating System. After all, for the previous question, you probably didn't answer Nvidia GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0.