Write the names of two universal logic gates. What is an integrated circuit? Write two advantages of it.

Hint: Universal gates are gates whose specific combinations can function as all the types of gates and can give all the Boolean expressions. Integrated circuits are one of the most important inventions in semiconductor physics and are used extensively in all computers and handheld electronics.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Universal gates are the gates which can serve the purpose of all common logic gates by placing them in specific combinations. The two universal gates are NAND gate and NOR gate.
Integrated Circuits (IC) are small chips made from a single silicon dye that acts like a miniature circuit board. It has several electrical connections embedded upon it and many electrical components like resistors and transistors can be joined upon this chip without the use or requirement of connecting them with wires.

Two advantages of integrated circuits are:

1) Many electrical components like resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc can be joined together without wires in a very compact and discrete unit. This saves a lot of space. Without the use of integrated circuits, the electronics that are present in a simple hand held mobile phone would fill up an entire room.

2) Due to their small size, they are very efficient and consume very less power with minimum wastage.

Note: Students must know that there are other logic gates also, such as, AND, OR, XOR gate, etc. However, these are not universal logic gates since their combinations cannot perform the same functions as the other gates individually. However, specific combinations of NAND and NOR gates separately can perform the logic operations of AND, OR or XOR gates individually. Hence, they are universal gates.