Which of the following describes the periodic doubling of transistor counts used to estimate technology development pace?

• A. Moore's Law
• B. Ohm's Law
• C. Boyle's Law
• D. Pascal's Principle

Answer: (A)

The idea described here is Moore's Law. It captures the observation that the number of transistors on integrated circuits tends to double roughly every two years, which has historically driven faster computing and lower cost per transistor. This doubling pace has been used as a gauge of how quickly technology development in semiconductors progresses, shaping expectations for performance improvements and device capabilities over time. While the exact rate has varied and may be slowing as physical limits loom, the core concept remains that increasing transistor density enables more powerful and affordable electronics.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: Ohm's Law is about the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits. Boyle's Law describes how pressure and volume relate for a gas at constant temperature. Pascal's Principle concerns how pressure is transmitted in fluids. None of these describe the growth pattern of transistor counts over time.