Keywords 8 - Memory, Storage Devices and Media

Question 1

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Answer 1

Primary storage that holds data to be processed and programs that are currently in use. Volatile - data is lost when the power is turned off.

Question 2

Embedded computer

Answer 2

A computer that is built into a device and performs one or more specialised tasks. The ROM contains firmware.

Question 3

General purpose computer

Answer 3

A computer used for many different applications, such as a desktop computer, tablet, laptop or smartphone. The ROM contains the bootstrap.

Question 4

ROM (Read Only Memory)

Answer 4

Primary storage that can be read from but not written to. It is non-volatile - data is retained when the power is turned off.

Question 5

Volatile

Answer 5

Memory that loses all the data when the power is lost

Question 6

Non-volatile

Answer 6

Memory that retains all the data when the power is lost

Question 7

Firmware

Answer 7

The software that runs an embedded computer

Question 8

Bootstrap

Answer 8

The software that determines the basic hardware structure of a general purpose computer and contains instructions for finding and loading the operating system.

Question 9

EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)

Answer 9

ROM that can be erased and written to. Used when a device’s firmware may need to be updated in the future.

Question 10

Flashing

Answer 10

The process of erasing and re-writing data to EPROM

Question 11

Secondary storage

Answer 11

Storage used to hold data and programs when the power is turned off. There are 3 types of secondary storage: magnetic, optical and solid state storage.

Question 12

Primary storage

Answer 12

Internal storage where data and programs held ready for processing. There are two types of primary storage: RAM and ROM.

Question 13

Magnetic storage

Answer 13

Devices that read, write and erase data using electromagnets and magnetic fields to control tiny dots of magnetic data. The dots represent binary. There are two types: magnetic tape and magnetic disks (e.g. hard disk).

Question 14

Optical storage

Answer 14

Devices that read data by shining a laser beam onto the surface of a plastic disk. Pits are the indentations and land are the high points. Pits and land represent 0s and 1s. There are 3 main types of optical storage devices: CD, DVD and Blu-ray disks.

Question 15

Pit

Answer 15

An indentation on the surface of an optical disk, used to represent binary data

Question 16

Land

Answer 16

The raised surface between pits on the surface of an optical disk, used to represent binary data

Question 17

CD (Compact Disk)

Answer 17

An early but still used optical medium

Question 18

DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)

Answer 18

A later high capacity optical medium

Question 19

Blu-ray disk

Answer 19

A modern, extremely high capacity optical medium

Question 20

RAM stick

Answer 20

A small solid state medium used to transport data

Question 21

SSD (Solid state drive)

Answer 21

A solid state version of a hard drive

Question 22

SD card

Answer 22

A solid state card used to store and transfer data

Question 23

Off-line storage

Answer 23

Any non-volatile storage device or medium that is disconnected or removed from a computer

Question 24

Secondary storage capacity

Answer 24

The amount of data that can be stored by the medium

Question 25

Secondary storage transfer speed

Answer 25

The rate at which data can be transferred to and from the storage medium

Question 26

Secondary storage portability

Answer 26

How easily the medium can be transported

Question 27

Secondary storage durability

Answer 27

How resistant the medium is to data loss and damage from wear, tear and pressure

Question 28

Secondary storage cost

Answer 28

How expensive the medium is per megabyte, or per gigabyte