MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

L.E.COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
B.E.SEM - VII (Mech.Engg. Deptt.)
C . P. LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT NO. 1.

AIM:- Introduction to computers.

Basically a machine is capable of doing the following three main functions in
computer.
1) To perform all basic arithmetic operations.
2) Follow a list or a set of instructions i.e. what to read or what to write etc.
3) It can read/write data from the input/output devices.

A computer consists of input devices, central processing units, video display unit,
output device such as printer, plotter.

COMPUTING CONCEPTS :
A computer small or big is basically a device used for processing data (numbers)
and text (words). It performs essentially the following three operations in sequence.
1) Receive data or text (and instructions).
2) Process data (as per the instructions).
3) Output results (information).
This cycle of operation of a computer is known as the input process output
cycle.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS :
Based on the operating principles computers can be classified into one of the
following types.

1) Digital computer :
It operates essentially by counting. All quantities are expressed as discrete
digits or numbers. It is used for evaluating arithmetic expressions and manipulations
of data such as preparation of data such as preparation of bills, ledgers, solution of
simultaneous equations.

2) Analog computers :
It operates by measuring rather than counting. The computer functions by
establishing similarities between two quantities that are usually expressed as voltage or
current. Analog computer is powerful tool to solve differential equation.

3) Hybrid computers:
It combines features of both analog and digital types. A majority of the
computers used today are digital. Modern computers depending upon their application
are classified as special purpose computers and general-purpose computers.

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Special purpose computers:
It is tailor made solely to cater to the requirements of a particular taste or
application. It incorporates the instructions needed into the design of internal storage so
it can perform the given taste on a simple command. It does possess unnecessary options
and costs less.
General purpose computers:
It is designed to meet the needs of many different applications. In general
purpose, the instructions needed to perform a particular task are not write permanently
into the internal memory. When one job is over, instructions for another job can be
loaded into the internal memory for processing.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS :
Computers are also available in different sizes and with different capabilities. The
selection of a particular system primarily depends on the volume of the data to be
handled and the speed of the processor. They are broadly classified as under :

1) Micro computer
2) Mini computer
3) Main frame computer
4) Super computer

1) Mini Computer :
It is a medium sized computer that is more costly and powerful than a
microcomputer. An important distinction between a micro and mini computer is that
a mini computer is usually designed to serve multiple users simultaneously. As a
system that supports multiple users is called multi terminal time-sharing system.
Mini computer is popular data processing system.

2) Micro Computer :
It is the smallest general purpose processing microsystem. Functionally it is
similar to any other large system. It has self-contained units and usually designed for
use by one person at a time. It can be easily linked to large computers.

3) Main Frame Computer :

Computer with large storage capacities and very high speed of processing
compared to microcomputer or mini computer is known as mainframe known as
mainframe computer. It supports a large number of terminals for use by a variety of
users simultaneously. It is also used as the central host computer in distributed data
processing systems.

4) Super Computer :
It has extremely large storage capacity and computing speed, which is atleast 10
times faster than other computers. Typically, the super computer is used for large-
scale numerical problems in scientific and engineering disciplines.

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 TABLE – 1 COMPARISON OF COMPUTERS

Classification Word : Speed Internal Cost In Rs.

Length : Instructions Memo
: Sec Kilo bytes
Micro 8 to 16 80,000- 32 to 640 10,000
1,00,000
Mini 16 to 32 5 lacs to 10 lacs 256 to 2000 40,000-90,000

Main Frame 32 to 64 10 lacs-100 lacs 2000 to 16000 20-100 lacs

Super 64 and above Above 100 lacs 8000 to 64,000 10-20 crores

COMPUTER GENERATIONS:
Computer is greatly revolutionized and to day it is reached to fifth generation
which is known as expert system that can improve the man-machine interactions. Such
systems would integrate the advancements in both hardware and software technologies
and would facilitate computer aided problem solving with the help of organized
information in many specialized areas. The expert systems are expensive and time
consuming. The comparison among first four generation is as given in table – 2.

TABLE – 2 COMPARISON OF COMPUTER GENERATIONS

Features First Second Third Fourth

Main Vacuum tube Transistor Integrated Large scale

component circuit (IC Integrated
chips) (L.S.I.)
Internal storage Electrostatic Magnetic core Magnetic core Semi conductor
(Memory) tubes and magnetic memory
drum
External Paper tape Magnetic disc, Magnetic disc, Magnetic disc,
storage punched card tape, drum, drum, punched tape drum,
(Auxiliary magnetic card punched card card, paper tape floppy disc,
Memory) punched card

Speed of 40 to 300 3000 to 30,000 3 lacs to 30 lacs 3 lacs to 30 lacs

operation thousand thousand thousand thousand

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 TABLE – 3
COMPARISON BETWEEN P.C. AND Pentium MODELS

Model Users Auxiliary Micro Expansion

Memory Storage Processor Slots
RAM
PC 64KB One of two High speed 5 PCI
640KB 180KB or 16 bit Intel
360KB 8088
disc drive
Pentium-3 20.GB High speed 8 ISA
64MB High speed 64 bit Intel
128MB fixed disc Pentium –
II

The P.C. model has monochromic (black and white) video display unit having
11.5 inch screen. No separate power source is required for display unit. It is suitable for
text material.
The XT model has color/graphic display unit having 12.5-inch screen. It has 16
foreground and 8 background colours. A separate power source is required for display
unit suitable for graphics. Screen displays 25 lines of text with 40 to 80 characteristics
per line in both monochronic and colour display units.

THE MEMORY OF COMPUTER:

ONE BIT IS EITHER 0 OR 1 (off or on binary system) and means one character
such eight bits will make one Byte. 1Kilo Byte = 1000 Bytes (actually 1024 bytes).
The memory is measured in terms of KB or MB. There are two types of
memories, one permanent memory i.e. ROM (Read Only Memory), the information areas
are permanently stored and on retrieval same information are available. The second type
is RAM (Random Access Memory) or user memory where information can be changed as
per the requirement. Generally the capacity of RAM is expressed for computer.
There are two types of CPU. One is 8 Bit CPU and the other is 16 bit CPU. 8 Bit
CPU can start processing after getting seven characters information’s and 16 Bit CPU can
start processing after getting 16 characters information. That means it has to wait upto 16
characters, but once the information has arrived, 16 bit CPU will perform the operation in
much shorter time.
Software is a set of instructions given to computer to get the desired work done.
Varieties of software can be used to have solutions in various fields. Hardware is a built
in component to a computer.
An interpreter converts statement into machine language and executes one at a
time and output will be obtained in same order. Editing and testing are easy and faster
but it is time consuming for executing whole program. While compiler reads all the
statements and converts into machine language. The execution of whole program starts
and output will be obtained at the end of program. The editing and testing are difficult
and slower but output is obtained at high speed i.e. as a whole it is faster 6 to 7 times than
that of interpreter.

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APPLICATIONS: -
Used in following areas :
1) Business
2) Education and Research
3) Telecommunication, space technology
4) Engineering
5) House hold purpose
6) Management etc.

GENERAL SPECIFICATION OF COMPUTER :-

COMPAG DESKPRO 2000

PROCESSOR: Pentium 866 MHz MMx
MEMORY: 64 MB EDO RAM
FLOPY DRIVE: 1*1.44 MB FDD
HARD DRIVE: 1*20 GB HDD with built in PCI based smart EDIE
GRAPHICS: Integrated PCI VGA with 2MB RAM (1028*768 Resolution)
PORTS: 2 serials, 1 parallel
DISPLAY: 14” SVGA color monitor
KEYBOARD: COMPAC KEYBOARD
MOUSE: COMPAC MOUSE
SLOTS/BAYS: 6 SLOTS/5 BAYS
ARCHITECTURE: PCI / ISA
FORM FACTOR: DESKTOP
SOFTWARE: Preinstalled licensed windows 98 intelligent marginibility.
Intelligent marginibility has following features:
1) Fault management (Prefailure warranty)
2) Easy software management.
3) Security management.
4) Inventory control.

SOFTWARE: -
Computer software includes languages, operating systems, utility software and
application software.
Languages :
Computers understand some specially developed languages for them so that they
may communicate with outside world. These computer languages again can be divided
into two categories: low level languages and high level languages.

Low Level Languages:- Low level languages known as machine language is understood
by computer system. This category bears very little resemblance with English words.
Not all computer systems understand the same machine language. In fact, the particular
CPU chip used in a computer determines which machine language it accepts. For
example, the machine language used by IBM personal computer is not the same as that of

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the Apple computer. The machine languages are number system and as such these are
very difficult to learn and hard to use.
High level languages: - High level languages are general-purpose application oriented
programming languages. They are English like and contain some familiar phrases and
terms of English language. They are translated to machine language with the help of a
system program known as compiler. Some of the high level languages are briefed
hereunder.
BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) has emerged as a very
popular computer language. It is easy to learn and use and best of all, it provides the
important features of more powerful language like FORTRAN> this language is mostly
used in educational and commercial application
FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator): - this language is generally used for mathematical
or engineering applications. A FORTRAN program consists of statements, which cause
the data to be read, processing performed and the result recorded. However, this language
is not well suited for business applications. FORTRAN program can be executed in
almost all general purpose computer systems.
COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language): - This language itself is made of
names, constants, literals and operator that specify some action or the relationship. A
COBOL is very much structured having four parts; identification division environment
division, data division, and procedure division. Each of the division has specific function
to complete. The computer professionals have taken the ANSI '74 version of COBOL as
the standard COBOL.
C: - ‘C’ is a general purpose programming language that features economy of the
expression. It was originally designed for UNIX operating system and all UNIX
application programs are written in C.
Operating System
Operating system consists of a set of system program that collectively simplifies
the operation of a computer. Major user benefits of an efficient operating system include
the facility to carry out relatively complex tasks by tying in computer keyboard some
simple command words. MS-DOS used in IBM Personal Computers as well as the
immensely popular Windows 95/98. Nowadays, Linux is also picking up some ground
against the MS juggernaut. UNIX is also becoming popular for computers having higher
processing power (servers).
Utility Programs
A utility program is written to accomplish routine jobs that allow the operator to use his
computer to communicate with other systems and to check if various components of the
computer system are identified which chip in the computer hardware needs to be replaced
in a sick computer.
Application programs
An application program is a set of instructions that is designed to perform
specified desired tasks. Game programs, educational programs, business system program
are all application programs.
QUIZ
1. Differentiate between (a) Object Program and Source Program
(b) RAM and ROM
(c ) Higher Level Language and Lower Level Language
2. Write a short note on Application of computer in Mechanical Engineering Field.

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