Central processing unit

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/central-processing-unit

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core functionality?Executes instructions from hardware and software, performing arithmetic, logic, and control operations
2. What is the key technological advancement?The integrated circuit (IC) enabled the development of the microprocessor
3. What is a CPU and why is it called the computer's brain?A CPU is the main part of a computer that reads and runs instructions, just like a brain tells the body what to do.
4. How fast does a CPU work?A CPU’s speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), showing how many cycles it can do each second. More cores, a bigger cache, and a good instruction set also help it run faster.

Transistor: A semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power.
Moore's Law: An observation that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years.
System-on-a-Chip (SoC): An integrated circuit that integrates all or most components of a computer or other electronic system.