1. A geography teacher wants to use a computer to monitor the weather conditions using the school weather station.
a) Name three sensors in a weather station:
Light
Rainfall
Wind speed
b) Explain why computers are unable to read the data directly from these sensors.
They cannot read it directly because computers only understand digital and this information is in the form of analogue.
c) What device is needed to enable the computer to read the data?
An analogue to digital converter.
2.A school uses a computer controlled green house to grow plants.
a) Name three sensors that would be used in the green house:
a light sensor
A movement sensor
A heat sensor
b)Explain why an analogue to digital converter is needed when computers are used to control a greenhouse:
ADC's are needed because the data from the sensor which tells the computer the light etc is in the form of analogue but the computer (to understand it ) needs it in the form of digital, so the converts converts it for the computer so it can check how well the plants are growing etc.
3.Many homes now have microprocessor controlled burglar alarm systems.
a)Name two sensors used in such a system and for each explain at it is used for.
A burglar alarm system would have a sensor which detects heat and movement, if a burglar was to move passed it, then the alarm would be sounded.
Another sensor they would use is a sound sensor to detect if the burglar makes any sound etc.
b)The role of microprocessors in such a system are to detect the heat or sound or light etc (the input) then process this to see if it is a threat(burglar) or the sound increases over a certain level or movement is detected if so then start bleeping or making aloud noise (the output). The noise would then warn you and you can then stop the burglar.
c) There are many microprocessors controlled devices in the modern home. Describe the effects of these on peoples lives.
Microprocessors have effected many peoples live, e.g. the washing machine is controlled by a microprocessor (Controls the speed the monitor spins in order to rotate the drum during the spinning cycle.) this means people know don't have to do the washing by hand and can spend more time with friends and family etc.
4.A greenhouse is controlled by a microprocessor.
a)List three physical variables which would be monitored.
Temperature
Wind speed
Wind direction
b)Explain the difference between measurement and control.
Measurement is the monitoring of physical variables without the microprocessor taking action whereas control is when the microprocessor takes action depending on sensor readings.
c) Give four advantages of using a computer rather than allowing students to control the growing conditions.
The computer is more accurate so will therefore give better results.
Humans can make human errors whereas computers wont.
Computers can be checking the greenhouse constant whereas humans cant.
Computers can make immediate changes whereas humans cant.
5.Below is a diagram of a river running past a chemical factory.The same types of sensors, connected to a computer are placed at a and b to monitor pollution of the river by the factory.
a)Name three sensors which would need to be placed at both a and b.
temperature
ph
Carbon dioxide
b)Describe how the computer would monitor the level of pollution in the river.
The computer would monitor the level of pollution by the micro processor logging the information at part a and if its different or worse at part b the computer will give an output which is postive and stops the pollution.
a) Name three sensors in a weather station:
Light
Rainfall
Wind speed
b) Explain why computers are unable to read the data directly from these sensors.
They cannot read it directly because computers only understand digital and this information is in the form of analogue.
c) What device is needed to enable the computer to read the data?
An analogue to digital converter.
2.A school uses a computer controlled green house to grow plants.
a) Name three sensors that would be used in the green house:
a light sensor
A movement sensor
A heat sensor
b)Explain why an analogue to digital converter is needed when computers are used to control a greenhouse:
ADC's are needed because the data from the sensor which tells the computer the light etc is in the form of analogue but the computer (to understand it ) needs it in the form of digital, so the converts converts it for the computer so it can check how well the plants are growing etc.
3.Many homes now have microprocessor controlled burglar alarm systems.
a)Name two sensors used in such a system and for each explain at it is used for.
A burglar alarm system would have a sensor which detects heat and movement, if a burglar was to move passed it, then the alarm would be sounded.
Another sensor they would use is a sound sensor to detect if the burglar makes any sound etc.
b)The role of microprocessors in such a system are to detect the heat or sound or light etc (the input) then process this to see if it is a threat(burglar) or the sound increases over a certain level or movement is detected if so then start bleeping or making aloud noise (the output). The noise would then warn you and you can then stop the burglar.
c) There are many microprocessors controlled devices in the modern home. Describe the effects of these on peoples lives.
Microprocessors have effected many peoples live, e.g. the washing machine is controlled by a microprocessor (Controls the speed the monitor spins in order to rotate the drum during the spinning cycle.) this means people know don't have to do the washing by hand and can spend more time with friends and family etc.
4.A greenhouse is controlled by a microprocessor.
a)List three physical variables which would be monitored.
Temperature
Wind speed
Wind direction
b)Explain the difference between measurement and control.
Measurement is the monitoring of physical variables without the microprocessor taking action whereas control is when the microprocessor takes action depending on sensor readings.
c) Give four advantages of using a computer rather than allowing students to control the growing conditions.
The computer is more accurate so will therefore give better results.
Humans can make human errors whereas computers wont.
Computers can be checking the greenhouse constant whereas humans cant.
Computers can make immediate changes whereas humans cant.
5.Below is a diagram of a river running past a chemical factory.The same types of sensors, connected to a computer are placed at a and b to monitor pollution of the river by the factory.
a)Name three sensors which would need to be placed at both a and b.
temperature
ph
Carbon dioxide
b)Describe how the computer would monitor the level of pollution in the river.
The computer would monitor the level of pollution by the micro processor logging the information at part a and if its different or worse at part b the computer will give an output which is postive and stops the pollution.