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Computer Science > 1.2 Memory and Storage > Flashcards

1.2 Memory and Storage Flashcards

1
Q

What does RAM store

A

Currently in use data and programs

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2
Q

Is RAM volatile or non-volatile

A

Volatile

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3
Q

Volatile meaning

A

Temporarily memory that is lost when the computer is switched off

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4
Q

What kind of memory is RAM

A

Main memory

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5
Q

What does RAM stand for

A

Random access memory

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6
Q

What is the speed of RAM

A

Faster than secondary storage but slower than cache

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7
Q

What happens to files when they are opened and then closed

A

They go form secondary storage to RAM then back to secondary storage when closed

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8
Q

What does ROM stand for

A

Read only memory

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9
Q

Is ROM volatile or non-volatile

A

Non-volatile

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10
Q

What does non-volatile mean

A

Permanent memory even if the computer has no power

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11
Q

What is ROM on the motherboard

A

A small chip

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12
Q

What does ROM store

A

BIOS (basic input output system) which are the instructions for the computer to boot up

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13
Q

Why does ROM need to be non-volatile

A

Because it needs to retain the data when the computer is off so it can start the computer again

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14
Q

Why is secondary storage needed

A

Because RAM is volatile so it will lose everything when the computer is turned off therefore it needs somewhere to permanente store files

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15
Q

What is secondary storage

A

Long-term non-volatile storage of files and programs

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16
Q

What is the read/write speeds of secondary storage

A

Slow

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17
Q

What are the three types of secondary storage

A

Solid state, magnetic and optical

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18
Q

Name 2 examples of solid state

A

Solid state drive, memory disk

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19
Q

Name 2 examples of magnetic storage

A

Floppy disk and hard disk drive

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20
Q

Name 3 examples of optical storage

A

DVD, CD and blu-ray

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21
Q

Name 6 qualities of secondary storage

A

Cost per MB, capacity, portability, read/write speed, durability and reliability

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22
Q

Best storage for cost per MB

A

magnetic

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23
Q

Worst storage for cost per MB

A

Solid state

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24
Q

Best storage for capacity

A

Magnetic

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25
Q

Worst storage for capacity

A

Optical

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26
Q

Best storage for portability

A

Solid state

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27
Q

Worst storage for portability

A

Magnetic

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28
Q

Best storage for read/write speeds

A

Solid state

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29
Q

Worst storage for read/write speeds

A

Optical

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30
Q

Best storage for durability

A

Solid state

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31
Q

Worst storage for durability

A

Magnetic

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32
Q

Best storage for reliability

A

Magnetic

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33
Q

Worst storage for reliability

A

Solid state

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34
Q

Where is virtual memory located

A

In secondary storage

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35
Q

Why do you need virtual memory

A

If RAM is full and a new program needs to be loaded into RAM, programs that haven’t been used recently are transferred to VM

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36
Q

What does virtual memory create space for and where

A

Creates space for a new program in RAM

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37
Q

What happens when a program is needed from virtual memory

A

They are moved to RAM making the computer slower as the transfer rates are slower in secondary storage than RAM

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38
Q

What is a bit

A

Single binary digit - 1 or 0

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39
Q

What is a nibble

40
Q

What is a byte

41
Q

What is a kilobyte

A

1000 bytes

42
Q

What is a megabyte

43
Q

What is a gigabyte

44
Q

What is a terabyte

45
Q

What is a petabyte

46
Q

Name the order if data capacity’s from smallest to largest

A

Bit
Nibble
Byte
Kilobyte
Megabyte
Gigabyte
Terabyte
Petabyte

47
Q

What is a overflow error

A

The result of an addition that cannot fit into the number of bits available usually by a carry

48
Q

0 + 0

49
Q

1 + 0

50
Q

1 + 1

51
Q

1 + 1 + 1

52
Q

What does one shift to the right do

A

Divide by two

53
Q

What does one shift to the left do

A

Multiply by 2

54
Q

Why do we use hexadecimal

A

It is easier for humans to read and use than binary and is less prone to mistakes

55
Q

What is a character set

A

A list of defines characters, each with a unique binary code

56
Q

What do character sets allow

A

Devices to communicate

57
Q

What is ASCII

A

7 bits for 128 English letters/characters/numbers

58
Q

What is extended ASCII

A

8 bits for 256 characters

59
Q

What is Unicode

A

16 or 32 bits to express all world languages and emojis

60
Q

Why is Unicode needed

A

ASCII doesn’t have enough data for other languages

61
Q

How is analogue sound stored digitally

A

sampled at regular intervals where the amplitude of a sound wave is measured

62
Q

What are the 4 factors affecting size and quality of a sound file

A

Sample intervals, sample frequency, bit depth and bit rate

63
Q

What is a sample interval

A

The gap between each sample

64
Q

What is a sample frequency

A

How many samples are taken per second

65
Q

What happens if a sound frequency is increased

A

It is closer to the original

66
Q

What is a bit depth for sound

A

The number of bits for each sample

67
Q

What happens if you increase the bit depth for sound

A

It is higher quality and there is more detail like quieter sounds

68
Q

What is the bit rate for sound

A

Number of bits per second
Sample frequency x bit depth

69
Q

How do you calculate the file size for sound

A

Bit rate x bit depth x duration

70
Q

What is bit rate measured in

71
Q

What is duration measured in

72
Q

What is file size measured in

73
Q

What are images stored as

74
Q

What is a bit map made of

A

Thousands of tiny squares called pixels

75
Q

What is each pixel represented by

A

A binary number

76
Q

What 3 factors affect the images file size

A

Colour depth, resolution and metadata

77
Q

What is the colour depth of an image

A

Number of bits used by each pixel to show colour

78
Q

What does increasing the colour depth do

A

Increase file size as pixel can represent more colours

79
Q

How many colours is one bit

80
Q

How many colours is 1 byte

81
Q

How many colours is 24 bits

A

16.7 million

82
Q

What is the resolution of an image

A

The density of pixels in an image
Width x height

83
Q

What does a higher resolution image mean

A

Higher quality and larger file size

84
Q

What is metadata

A

The information within the image that is used to recreate it on the screen

85
Q

What are the 4 examples of metadata

A

Height, width, colour depth and resolution

86
Q

How to work out the total number of colours in an image

A

2 to the power of n
N is the number of bits per pixel

87
Q

How do you work out the file size of an image

A

Image resolution x colour depth

88
Q

What is file size of an image measured in

89
Q

What does compression do

A

Decreases a file size

90
Q

What does compression allow

A

To store more files and it makes it faster to upload/download files

91
Q

What does lossy compression do

A

Permanently deletes data to reduce the file size which cannot be retrieved

92
Q

What 3 things can lossy compression be used on

A

Images, audio and videos

93
Q

What is the most effective compression

94
Q

What is a problem with lossy compression

A

It can reduce the quality of

95
Q

What is lossless compression

A

When an algorithm is used to temporarily reduces a file size which can be restored to its original size and quality

96
Q

What two things can lossless compression be used on

A

Word documents and executable files

Computer Science (7 decks)

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