Pushing computers to the limit
Students will answer questions based on the Science News article “Computer chip milestone reached.”
Educator Guide: Computer Chip Milestone Reached
The sun may be setting on silicon. Now, computer chips made with carbon nanotubes (one pictured) are the up-and-comers.
G. Hills et al/Nature 2019
About this guide
This guide, based on the Science News article “Computer chip milestone reached,” asks students to explore transistors and Moore’s Law. The activity leads students as they design a simple circuit out of logic gates.
This Guide Includes:
Many Moore transistors?
After watching a video about transistors, your class can use these discussion prompts to analyze transistor technology and predict future trends in computer processing.
Digital circuit design
Students will practice designing an integrated circuit that can accomplish a simple task. The activity will help students understand that digital circuits are composed of logic gates made up of transistors.