Year 10 Computer Science Vocab List. Data Representation And Communication T1

Binary

A system of communication that uses 2 symbols only.

ADC

Analog to Digital Conversion, the process of converting an analog signal to digital.

Amplitude

Size or magnitude of a signal (wave).

Analog

Real (physical) entity - or copy of something real, e.g. an analog watch displays 2 hands.

Collision

When 2 signals are sent at once and they interfere with each other.

Continuous

Values that blend smoothly into each other; cannot write down all possible continuous values.

Cross-talk

When signals within 1 wire affect signals in another wire.

Cycle

Part of a process that repeats.

DAC

Digital to Analog Conversion, the process of taking a digital signal and converting it into an analog signal.

Denary

Base 10.

Digital

A system where information is encoded discreetly.

Discrete

In distinct chunks; opposite of continuous.

Frequency

A measure of radio waves; high frequency radio waves can carry more data faster.

Magnitude

Size.

Medium

The physical ‘stuff’ a signal travels through, e.g., wires, air.

Modulation

Changing the form/shape of a signal, e.g., wireless to optical.

Overflow

When the addition of 2 binary numbers has a carry on the last bit, resulting in more bits than the operands.

Parallel

When 2 or more components are joined side by side.

Prefix

The letters at the start of a number, to indicate binary or denary.

Pulse

A single discrete part of a digital electrical signal.

Serial

When 2 or more components are connected end to end.

Skew

When signals in parallel wires arrive at their destination at slightly different times.

Suffix

A number/text at the end of a number to indicate binary or denary.

Bus

Set of wires connecting multiple devices together

Computer

Any device that can manipulate data

Peripheral Devices

Any (non-computational) device connected to a computer. E.g printer, speaker