CSS General Science and Ability Information Technology Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Information Technology deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is social media? Give two examples of platforms.

   Web-based and mobile applications that let users create, share, and interact with content and connect in virtual communities. Examples: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok.

2. What is cyberbullying?

   The use of digital technologies (social media, messaging, email) to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person repeatedly and deliberately.

3. What is phishing?

   A cyber-fraud technique where attackers send fake but legitimate-looking messages (often emails) to trick users into revealing sensitive information like passwords or bank details, or installing malware.

4. Differentiate between a virus, a worm, and a Trojan horse.

   A virus attaches to a host file and spreads when run. A worm self-replicates and spreads across networks without a host. A Trojan horse disguises itself as legitimate software to gain access, but does not self-replicate.

5. What is a firewall in cybersecurity?

   A hardware or software security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules, acting as a barrier between a trusted network and untrusted networks.

6. What is the difference between authentication and encryption?

   Authentication verifies the identity of a user or system (proving who you are). Encryption converts data into an unreadable coded form to protect confidentiality during storage or transmission.

7. What is a DDoS attack?

   A Distributed Denial of Service attack floods a server, service, or network with overwhelming traffic from many compromised systems (a botnet), making it unavailable to legitimate users.

8. Define Artificial Intelligence (AI).

   The branch of computer science concerned with building machines and software that can perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding.

9. What is the difference between Machine Learning and Deep Learning?

   Machine Learning is a subset of AI where systems learn patterns from data to make predictions. Deep Learning is a subset of ML that uses multi-layered artificial neural networks to learn from large amounts of data.

10. Differentiate between Narrow (Weak) AI and General (Strong) AI.

    Narrow AI is designed for a specific task (e.g., voice assistants, chess engines) and is the only type currently in use. General AI would match or exceed human intelligence across any task, and remains theoretical.

11. What is the Turing Test?

    A test proposed by Alan Turing to judge a machine's intelligence: if a human evaluator cannot reliably tell whether they are conversing with a machine or a human, the machine is said to exhibit intelligent behavior.

12. What is a neural network in AI?

    A computing model inspired by the human brain, made of interconnected nodes (neurons) organized in layers, that processes input data through weighted connections to recognize patterns and make decisions.

13. Define robotics and state what a robot is.

    Robotics is the interdisciplinary field of designing, building, and operating robots. A robot is a programmable machine capable of carrying out a series of actions automatically, often sensing and interacting with its environment.

14. What are the three core components/abilities of a typical robot?

    Sensors (to perceive the environment), actuators/effectors (to move and act), and a control system/processor (to make decisions). Power supply and a programmable controller are also essential.

15. What is the difference between automation and robotics?

    Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention (may be purely software). Robotics specifically involves physical, programmable machines (robots); not all automation uses robots and not all robots are fully automated.

16. What does GSM stand for and what generation of mobile technology is it associated with?

    Global System for Mobile Communications — the standard for 2G (second-generation) digital cellular networks, widely used for voice calls and SMS.

17. Compare the key advancement of each mobile generation from 1G to 5G.

    1G: analog voice; 2G: digital voice + SMS; 3G: mobile internet/data; 4G (LTE): high-speed broadband, video; 5G: very high speed, ultra-low latency, massive device connectivity (IoT).

18. What is the difference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

    Wi-Fi provides high-speed wireless internet/network access over a larger range (tens of meters). Bluetooth is a short-range (about 10 m) technology for connecting personal devices and transferring small amounts of data with low power.

19. What does a GPS system consist of, and how many satellites are needed for a position fix?

    GPS (Global Positioning System) consists of a constellation of satellites, ground control stations, and user receivers. A receiver needs signals from at least 4 satellites to determine a 3D position (latitude, longitude, altitude) and time.

20. How does GPS determine a receiver's location?

    By trilateration: the receiver calculates its distance from multiple satellites using the time it takes signals to arrive, then computes the point where those distance spheres intersect.

21. What is a geostationary satellite and at what altitude does it orbit?

    A satellite that orbits Earth at about 35,786 km above the equator with an orbital period equal to Earth's rotation (24 hours), so it appears stationary over a fixed point — ideal for communication and weather satellites.

22. Differentiate between LEO, MEO, and GEO satellite orbits.

    LEO (Low Earth Orbit, ~160–2,000 km) for imaging and some comms; MEO (Medium Earth Orbit, ~2,000–35,786 km) used by GPS; GEO (Geostationary Orbit, ~35,786 km) for communication and broadcasting satellites.

23. What is the basic principle behind fiber optic communication?

    Fiber optic communication transmits data as pulses of light through thin glass or plastic fibers, relying on total internal reflection to keep the light confined within the fiber core over long distances.

24. State two major advantages of fiber optic cables over copper cables.

    Higher bandwidth and faster data speeds over longer distances with lower signal loss; immunity to electromagnetic interference; greater security; and lighter weight compared to copper.

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