Science, computing, and the Internet

The goal of the MilkyWay@Home volunteer computing project is to build an accurate model of the Milky Way by simulating the composition of dark matter around the galaxy.

Once volunteers sign up for the project and download the application, their computer will run models of the galaxy whenever it has spare CPU cycles. The results are sent back to the project's central database, so that scientists can identify the models with the best fit and publish the results.

What's the primary benefit of enabling volunteers to run the models on their home computers?

(Choice A)
The researchers do not have to pay for the computing power used by the home computers.
(Choice B)
The computers can discover bugs in the modeling algorithms that only happen on specific computers.
(Choice C)
Home computers are now more powerful than supercomputers.
(Choice D)
People can input their own expertise and data into the computer simulations.

Archived AP CSP content

Course: Archived AP CSP content > Unit 2

Problem