AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES INTERNET
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is a bit? - ANSWER a single unit of data that can only have one of two
values (such as a one or zero).
What is a byte? - ANSWER Eight bits (10110101)
What is bandwidth? - ANSWER a system's transmission capacity (measured by
the quantity of data that can be delivered in a particular amount of time)
What is latency? - The time between the transmission and reception of a
message
How might a number storage constraint lead to overflow errors? - ANSWER
Certain programs have a limit on how many integers they can store. For
example, if the limit is 4 bits, storage can go up to 1010. Overflow occurs when
a sufficiently lengthy integer exceeds the limit, resulting in an error (e.g.,
infinity or NaN).
What are floating-point numbers? - ANSWER is a binary representation of
scientific notation. It is named floating point because the decimal point "floats"
right after the first digit. (e.g. 2.1273647e+32)
How might floating points cause round-off errors? - ANSWER Floating points
round off the last digits of an infinite/large number, which can result in
rounding that is inaccurate when manipulated (e.g., 1/3=0.3333, but when
multiplied by 3, it states 0.99999 rather than 1).
What technology does an ethernet cable use? What are its features? - ANSWER
It uses electricity to send bits. Best for close distances, but cheap, with probable
signal loss.
What materials does a fiber optic cable use? What are its features? - ANSWER
It transmits data by light. Best for long distances, speedy, and less potential
signal loss, but pricey and difficult to operate with.
, What is a web browser? - ANSWER An application for accessing online pages.
What is a URL? - ANSWER Uniform Resource Locator: an address for
accessing specific web data stored on a server.
What exactly is a Domain Name Server (DNS)? - ANSWER Domain Name
System server: a computer or computers holding data that others can access.
What is HTTP? - ANSWER HyperText Transfer Protocol is a language used to
communicate between web browsers and servers.
What is HTML? - ANSWER HyperText Markup Language is a language that
tells a web browser how to display a page.
Which two components does HTML decide separately? - ANSWER: (1) web
page text (2) individual images and videos (each with its own HTML code).
What are the procedures to visit a web page? - ANSWER: (1) Open a web
browser (2) Enter a URL or other information (3) The HTTP code [get()
request] is sent to DNS.
(4) DNS returns HTTP with HTML files to create a page.
In computer science terms, what is a cookie? - ANSWER What websites use to
remember who you are (similar to an ID card)
How does information transfer via web browsers work? - ANSWER: (1) Input
information (e.g., Google search or login) (2) HTTP "post" request (3) Sends
information to domain name server (4) Returns data (5) A cookie is attached to
the returned data to remember the user (6) When the server logs on and sends
information, the cookie is attached to ensure the domain server knows who it is.
What is SSL and TLS? - ANSWER Secure Socket Layers: A layer of protection
wrapped around a user's communications to prevent surveillance and tampering.
Transportation Layer Security: Successor to SSL.
How can one determine whether SSL/TLS is active in their browser? -
ANSWER A lock sign would be displayed next to the URL.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is a bit? - ANSWER a single unit of data that can only have one of two
values (such as a one or zero).
What is a byte? - ANSWER Eight bits (10110101)
What is bandwidth? - ANSWER a system's transmission capacity (measured by
the quantity of data that can be delivered in a particular amount of time)
What is latency? - The time between the transmission and reception of a
message
How might a number storage constraint lead to overflow errors? - ANSWER
Certain programs have a limit on how many integers they can store. For
example, if the limit is 4 bits, storage can go up to 1010. Overflow occurs when
a sufficiently lengthy integer exceeds the limit, resulting in an error (e.g.,
infinity or NaN).
What are floating-point numbers? - ANSWER is a binary representation of
scientific notation. It is named floating point because the decimal point "floats"
right after the first digit. (e.g. 2.1273647e+32)
How might floating points cause round-off errors? - ANSWER Floating points
round off the last digits of an infinite/large number, which can result in
rounding that is inaccurate when manipulated (e.g., 1/3=0.3333, but when
multiplied by 3, it states 0.99999 rather than 1).
What technology does an ethernet cable use? What are its features? - ANSWER
It uses electricity to send bits. Best for close distances, but cheap, with probable
signal loss.
What materials does a fiber optic cable use? What are its features? - ANSWER
It transmits data by light. Best for long distances, speedy, and less potential
signal loss, but pricey and difficult to operate with.
, What is a web browser? - ANSWER An application for accessing online pages.
What is a URL? - ANSWER Uniform Resource Locator: an address for
accessing specific web data stored on a server.
What exactly is a Domain Name Server (DNS)? - ANSWER Domain Name
System server: a computer or computers holding data that others can access.
What is HTTP? - ANSWER HyperText Transfer Protocol is a language used to
communicate between web browsers and servers.
What is HTML? - ANSWER HyperText Markup Language is a language that
tells a web browser how to display a page.
Which two components does HTML decide separately? - ANSWER: (1) web
page text (2) individual images and videos (each with its own HTML code).
What are the procedures to visit a web page? - ANSWER: (1) Open a web
browser (2) Enter a URL or other information (3) The HTTP code [get()
request] is sent to DNS.
(4) DNS returns HTTP with HTML files to create a page.
In computer science terms, what is a cookie? - ANSWER What websites use to
remember who you are (similar to an ID card)
How does information transfer via web browsers work? - ANSWER: (1) Input
information (e.g., Google search or login) (2) HTTP "post" request (3) Sends
information to domain name server (4) Returns data (5) A cookie is attached to
the returned data to remember the user (6) When the server logs on and sends
information, the cookie is attached to ensure the domain server knows who it is.
What is SSL and TLS? - ANSWER Secure Socket Layers: A layer of protection
wrapped around a user's communications to prevent surveillance and tampering.
Transportation Layer Security: Successor to SSL.
How can one determine whether SSL/TLS is active in their browser? -
ANSWER A lock sign would be displayed next to the URL.
