Final answer:
Moore's law refers to the trend of doubling in microprocessing power approximately every two years, which has significantly impacted the evolution of computers from models like the PDP-12 minicomputer to the Apple II.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is A: Moore's law refers to the increase in microprocessing power over time. Named after Gordon Moore, one of the co-founders of Intel, Moore's law is the observation that the number of transistors on integrated circuits doubles approximately every two years. This has led to an exponential increase in computing performance and has been a driving factor in the evolution of computers, such as the transition from a PDP-12 minicomputer to the Apple II. However, Moore's law is an observation and projection of a trend rather than a physical law like the laws of thermodynamics.
Engineers have played essential roles in this evolution by using computers to design more advanced hardware, thus creating a positive feedback loop that accelerates technology development. An example of this is the early Apple II computer that contributed to making personal computing accessible to a larger market, significantly influencing the growth and direction of the computer industry.