The word size of 8085 microprocessor is_____.

Question

Examoogle · Accepted Answer

8-bit

Explanation: The 8085 is an 8-bit general-purpose microprocessor designed by Intel. It is called an 8-bit microprocessor because its Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), internal data bus, and registers are designed to handle data in 8-bit chunks simultaneously.

Working Principle: The 'word size' refers to the number of bits that the processor can process, manipulate, or transfer in a single instruction cycle. In the 8085, the internal data bus is 8 bits wide, allowing it to perform operations on 8-bit data values ($00_{H}$ to $FF_{H}$) in a single clock cycle.

Key Formulas: $N = 2^{n}$ — Number of unique values representable by an n-bit processor, where $n=8$ for 8085, yielding $2^8 = 256$ values.

Key Points: The 8085 has an 8-bit data bus and a 16-bit address bus.; The 16-bit address bus allows the 8085 to access $2^{16} = 65,536$ (64 KB) of memory locations.; Word size is a fundamental parameter of microprocessor architecture determining register capacity.

Advantages: Simple architectural design; Low power consumption compared to higher-bit microprocessors; Cost-effective for basic control applications

Disadvantages: Limited data processing speed for complex calculations; Small memory addressing range (64 KB) relative to modern standards

Applications: Washing machine control; Simple embedded systems; Educational laboratory training kits

Additional Info: The 'word size' should not be confused with the 'address bus size'. While the data path is 8-bit, the address bus is 16-bit to allow addressing of memory.. Option A (4-bit) describes early microprocessors like Intel 4004.. Option C (16-bit) describes processors like 8086.. Option D (20-bit) corresponds to the address bus width of the 8086.

Answer: B is correct — The 8085 microprocessor features an 8-bit internal data bus and registers, which characterizes it as an 8-bit processor.

Exam Tip: Always distinguish between the data bus width (defines word size) and the address bus width (defines memory capacity). For 8085, these are 8-bit and 16-bit respectively.

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