1.2 primary and secondary data

Question 1

Where is secondary storage memory located

Answer 1

Attached to mother board via wires

Question 1

Where is primary storage memory located

Answer 1

Directly on motherboard

Question 2

What is ROM

Answer 2

Stores permanent data and instructions which are needed when the computer is powered up

Question 3

What is RAM

Answer 3

Stores temporary, currently running data which is wiped when computer is turned off

Question 4

Is RAM volatile or non - volatile

Answer 4

Volatile

Question 5

Is ROM volatile or non volatile

Answer 5

Non volatile

Question 6

What is virtual memory

Answer 6

Section of temporary data on secondary storage e.g. the hard drive for when the RAM gets full. When this data is needed it sends it to the RAM and any unused data is sent back to the hard disk drive

Question 7

What are the two types of primary data

Answer 7

RAM and ROM

Question 8

Pros and cons of primary data

Answer 8

Quick to access as it is on motherboard
Limited space

Question 9

Cons of virtual memory

Answer 9

It is slower as it is secondary storage

Question 10

Is secondary data volatile

Answer 10

No, all contents are kept

Question 11

What are the three common types of secondary data

Answer 11

Magnetic, optical and solid state

Question 12

Example of magnetic storage device

Answer 12

Hard disk drive

Question 13

Examples of optical storage devices

Answer 13

CD, DVD and Blu-ray

Question 14

Examples of solid state storage devices

Answer 14

Solid state drive, USB memory stick

Question 15

How do magnetic devices work

Answer 15

Use magnetic fields to magnetise tiny individual sections of a metal disk. A magnetised section represents binary 1 and demagnetised represents 0. To write data, the head magnetises/ demagnetises sections and to read it, it makes a note on if it’s magnetised or not

Question 16

Magnetic devices characteristics

Answer 16

Fairly cheap, high in capacity, durable, susceptible to damage, vulnerable to magnetic fields

Question 17

How do optical devices work

Answer 17

Use a laser scanner to scan the surface of a spinning disc. Disc surface has different tracks which have flat areas (lands) which reflects the light back and hollows (pits) which scatter the laser. Reflected light (flats) represents a binary 1 and no reflection (pits) represents 0

Question 18

Three types of optical media

Answer 18

ROM (pre-written), R media (blank so can be written to once), and RW (similar to R but can be written on many times)

Question 19

How do solid state drives work

Answer 19

Use non - volatile RAM to store data indefinitely

Question 20

Solid state device characteristics

Answer 20

Expensive, smaller in capacity, require little power, durable, portable,

Question 21

Optical device characteristics

Answer 21

Portable, cheap, easily damaged, portable