Microprocessors and Microcontrollers: A Comprehensive Guide for Electrical Engineering Students

Question 1

What is the distinctive feature that sets microcontrollers apart from microprocessors?

Accepted Answer

Microcontrollers incorporate built-in peripherals.

Answer

Microcontrollers have larger memory capacity than microprocessors.

Answer

Microprocessors operate at faster speeds than microcontrollers.

Answer

Microprocessors and microcontrollers do not have any inherent differences.

Question 2

What is the primary function of the Program Counter (PC) in a microprocessor?

Accepted Answer

Storing the memory address of the next instruction to be executed

Answer

Storing the currently executing instruction

Answer

Storing the stack pointer

Answer

Storing the program data

Question 3

What is the key difference between polling and interrupts in microcontroller systems?

Accepted Answer

Interrupts are more efficient for time-critical applications.

Answer

Polling is more efficient for time-critical applications.

Answer

Polling is used for non-time-critical applications.

Answer

Interrupts are used for non-time-critical applications.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a watchdog timer in microcontrollers?

Accepted Answer

Resetting the microcontroller in case it becomes unresponsive

Answer

Measuring the time elapsed since the last reset

Answer

Generating periodic interrupts

Answer

Storing the current time

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of an interrupt in a microcontroller?

Accepted Answer

Halts current program execution and redirects to a specific address

Answer

Stores data temporarily

Answer

Manages the timing of events

Answer

Executes arithmetic operations

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of a watchdog timer in a microcontroller?

Accepted Answer

Preventing the microcontroller from entering an infinite loop

Answer

Scheduling events and tasks

Answer

Generating interrupts at regular intervals

Answer

Monitoring voltage and power supply

Question 7

In microprocessor programming, what is the function of an assembler?

Accepted Answer

Translate assembly language code into binary instructions

Answer

Execute binary programs on the microprocessor

Answer

Identify and correct errors in microprocessor programs

Answer

Simulate microprocessor behavior

Question 8

In a microcontroller, what is the primary purpose of an interrupt service routine (ISR)?

Accepted Answer

Respond to external events

Answer

Manage program loop execution

Answer

Provide temporary data storage

Answer

Connect with peripherals

Question 9

Which of the following is a typical application for microcontrollers?

Accepted Answer

Embedded systems

Answer

Personal computers

Answer

Mainframe computers

Answer

Supercomputers

Question 10

What is the primary purpose of a stack in a microprocessor?

Accepted Answer

Store temporary data and return addresses

Answer

Store program instructions

Answer

Store data and instructions permanently

Answer

Interface with peripherals

Question 11

In a microcontroller, what is the purpose of a serial communication interface?

Accepted Answer

Transmit and receive data over a physical connection

Answer

Connect multiple microcontrollers

Answer

Store program instructions

Answer

Interface with peripherals

Question 12

What is the primary role of a microcontroller's program counter?

Accepted Answer

Holds the address of the next instruction to be executed

Answer

Stores the value of the stack pointer

Answer

Stores the return address for a subroutine call

Answer

Stores the interrupt vector table

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental type of bus used in a microprocessor system?

Accepted Answer

Instruction bus

Answer

Data bus

Answer

Address bus

Answer

Control bus

Question 14

In a microcontroller, what is the key distinction between a timer and a counter?

Accepted Answer

A timer measures time intervals, while a counter counts events

Answer

A counter measures time intervals, while a timer counts events

Answer

They perform identical functions

Answer

Microcontrollers do not typically have timers or counters

Question 15

In a microcontroller system, what is the significance of the reset vector?

Accepted Answer

It determines the starting address of the program at power-up or reset

Answer

It provides a way to jump to different parts of the program during execution

Answer

It stores the value of the stack pointer

Answer

It handles interrupt requests

Question 16

What is the primary function of a watchdog timer in a microcontroller?

Accepted Answer

To detect and recover from system malfunctions

Answer

To generate timing delays

Answer

To measure execution time

Answer

To provide a real-time clock

Question 17

What is the primary function of a microcontroller?

Accepted Answer

To execute a set of instructions stored in memory

Answer

To amplify signals

Answer

To convert analog signals to digital signals

Answer

To provide power to other components

Question 18

Which assembly language instruction is used to load a value into a register?

Accepted Answer

LD

Answer

SUB

Answer

JMP

Answer

ADD

Question 19

What is the purpose of an interrupt service routine (ISR)?

Accepted Answer

To handle external events that require immediate attention

Answer

To perform arithmetic operations

Answer

To store data temporarily

Question 20

What is the difference between a von Neumann and a Harvard architecture microprocessor?

Accepted Answer

In a von Neumann architecture, the data and instruction memory are shared, while in a Harvard architecture, they are separate.

Answer

In a von Neumann architecture, the processor is 8-bit, while in a Harvard architecture, it is 16-bit.

Question 21

What is the purpose of a program counter (PC) in a microcontroller?

Accepted Answer

To keep track of the next instruction to be executed

Answer

To perform arithmetic operations

Answer

To store the current status of the microcontroller