1. A physics researcher would want to have a 64-bit CPU rather than a 32-bit CPU for a few reasons. A 64-bit CPU can handle much more calculations per second and can therefore complete tasks faster. They also have multiple cores which increases processing power and makes the computer run faster. This would increase efficiency and mean the researcher could do their work faster and run complex software systems.
A 64-bit CPU also has more memory, it can have more than 4GB of memory compared to the 3GB - 4GB a 32-bit CPU has. This is important for downloading programs they need to use. It is also better for processing huge amounts of data at one time which is necessary for a researcher.

2. Distributed computing is a network of independent computers which communicate to achieve a goal. They do not share a memory or processors and communicate with pieces of information transferred over a network. Parallel computing uses multiple processers which each work on different things but share the same data. It was brought in to find a way around mechanical and physical restrictions on computer speed.

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A Beowulf Cluster is a group of usually identical computers connected by a network in a small area that has the ability for processing to be shared because of installed programs and libraries.

4. SETI@home can use any computer that is plugged into their network to go through data when they are looking for extraterrestrial life. They get so much data from the satellites that they need to spread it across many computers and if you connect yours to their network when your computer is on they can use your CPU. They do this because they don’t have enough computers themselves.

5. Stardust@home uses distributed computing to look for tiny interstellar dust impacts in photos taken by the NASA Stardust mission. They get volunteers to look at the images not computers. It is distributed for people to search the images unlike most distributed