Why an application needs the operating system, firmware and hardware

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which statement is correct about a web browser on a computer?

A It needs the operating system to manage memory and the CPU for it

B It can run on its own because it talks directly to the hardware

2. A computer has hardware and applications installed, but the operating system has been deleted. What happens?

A The applications cannot run because nothing manages the resources

B The applications run as normal because the hardware does all the work

3. What is the job of the firmware and bootloader in the layers?

A To start up the computer and load the operating system

B To store the user's documents and photos

4. Which answer correctly uses 'because' to explain why an application needs hardware?

A An application needs hardware because it is a type of system software

B An application needs hardware because the CPU is needed to carry out its instructions

5. The firmware on a computer is missing and the OS is stored on the hard drive. What happens when it is switched on?

A The OS loads itself because the hard drive is non-volatile

B The OS is not loaded, so the applications cannot be used

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1application dependency		AIF OS = missing THEN application cannot run
2Application -> OS -> Firmware -> Hardware		BWrong: the hardware only carries out instructions. The firmware and bootloader provide the first instructions that start the computer and load the OS.
3With no operating system, an application has nothing to manage the RAM, CPU time and files it needs, so it cannot run.		CIF firmware = missing THEN OS is not loaded
4With no firmware or bootloader, the OS is never loaded into RAM, so no application can be started.		DAn application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS, the firmware and the hardware underneath it.
5An application can run on bare hardware with no OS.		EWrong: the application needs the OS to manage resources such as memory, the CPU and files. Without the OS it cannot run.
6The hardware loads the OS by itself, so firmware is not needed.		FThe layers of a computer, from the program the user sees down to the physical parts that carry out instructions.

Definitions

application dependency

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

An app needs the __ to manage resources

The ________ starts the OS at power on

The ________ carries out instructions

No __________ means the OS never loads

The app cannot run _______ there is no OS

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A power on computer

B firmware runs the application

C bootloader loads the OS

D OS runs the application

Question 2

A IF no operating system THEN

B no resource management

C no user interface

D application runs faster

E ENDIF

Question 3

A layer1 = application

B layer2 = firmware

C layer3 = operating system

D layer4 = application

Question 4

A app wants to save a file

B firmware manages the storage

C hardware writes the data

Question 5

A no firmware present

B bootloader cannot be found

C OS is loaded as normal

D application cannot start

Answer Key

Why an application needs the operating system, firmware and hardware

Section A: Quick Questions

A — It needs the operating system to manage memory and the CPU for it

A — The applications cannot run because nothing manages the resources

A — To start up the computer and load the operating system

B — An application needs hardware because the CPU is needed to carry out its instructions

B — The OS is not loaded, so the applications cannot be used

Section B: Match the Pairs

application dependency → An application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS, the firmware and the hardware underneath it.

Application -> OS -> Firmware -> Hardware → The layers of a computer, from the program the user sees down to the physical parts that carry out instructions.

With no operating system, an application has nothing to manage the RAM, CPU time and files it needs, so it cannot run. → IF OS = missing THEN application cannot run

With no firmware or bootloader, the OS is never loaded into RAM, so no application can be started. → IF firmware = missing THEN OS is not loaded

An application can run on bare hardware with no OS. → Wrong: the application needs the OS to manage resources such as memory, the CPU and files. Without the OS it cannot run.

The hardware loads the OS by itself, so firmware is not needed. → Wrong: the hardware only carries out instructions. The firmware and bootloader provide the first instructions that start the computer and load the OS.

Section C: Definitions

application dependency — An application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS to manage resources, the firmware to start the OS and the hardware to carry out its instructions.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

An app needs the OS to manage resources

The firmware starts the OS at power on

The hardware carries out instructions

No bootloader means the OS never loads

The app cannot run because there is no OS

Section E: Spot the Error

B — Firmware does not run the application. It starts the bootloader, which loads the OS, and the OS then runs the application. The line should be 'firmware starts bootloader'.

D — Without an operating system nothing manages the resources, so the application cannot run at all. It does not run faster. The line should be 'application cannot run'.

A — The hardware is the bottom layer because everything else depends on it. The application is the top layer. Line 1 should be 'layer1 = hardware'.

B — Managing storage and files is a job of the operating system, not the firmware. Firmware only helps start the OS. The line should be 'OS manages the storage'.

C — With no firmware the bootloader cannot be found, so the OS is never loaded and the application cannot start. The line should be 'OS is never loaded'.