Unit 1.2. Memory and Storage

Question 1

RAM

Answer 1

Random Access Memory- the main memory of a computer. It stores data, apps and the operating system while in use. It loses its data when the power is turned off

Question 2

Primary Storage

Answer 2

Storage for data that the CPU needs to access quickly

Question 3

Secondary Storage

Answer 3

Non-volatile storage for files and programs

Question 4

ROM

Answer 4

Read-only memory- used to store data and programs to initialise a computer system

Question 5

Give an example of something stored in ROM:

Answer 5

the BIOS- basic input/output system

Question 6

Solid State Drives (SSDs)

Answer 6

A solid state storage drive carries out the function of a traditional HDD. However, they are faster, less easy to damage and have no moving parts. They are more expensive with a lower capacity.

Question 7

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Answer 7

A magnetic storage drive which can store large amounts of data and is a popular choice for personal computers. The drive contains a number of internal disks and a read/write head used to read and write data.

Question 8

Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)

Answer 8

A high capacity optical storage disk commonly used for video storage. A range of capacities are available up to 17GB

Question 9

Compact Disk (CD)

Answer 9

An optical storage disk often used to store music. Capacity is usually around 800mb

Question 10

Solid State Storage

Answer 10

Storage device using electrical transistors to store data

Question 11

Cloud storage

Answer 11

Storage, services and applications that exist on the internet

Question 12

Optical Storage

Answer 12

Storage devices that use laser light to read and write data

Question 13

Virtual memory

Answer 13

A section of the hard drive used as if it were RAM to supplement the amount of main memory available to the computer

Question 14

Volatile

Answer 14

Volatile means data is lost when the power is turned off

Question 15

Non-volatile

Answer 15

Non-volatile memory retains data even when the power is turned off

Question 16

Magnetic Storage

Answer 16

Storage medium using magnetism to store data (e.g. magnetic tape or hard disk drives)

Question 17

Byte (B)

Answer 17

consists of 8 bits

Question 18

Kilobyte (KB)

Answer 18

consists of 1000 bytes

Question 19

Megabyte (MB)

Answer 19

consists of 1000 kilobytes

Question 20

Gigabyte (GB)

Answer 20

consists of 1000 megabytes

Question 21

Terabyte (TB)

Answer 21

consists of 1000 gigabytes

Question 22

Petabyte (PB)

Answer 22

consists of 1000 terabytes

Question 23

Overflow error

Answer 23

When the result of a binary calculations exceeds the number of bits allocated to it.

Question 24

Binary Shift

Answer 24

A process used to perform maths on binary numbers. It involves moving all the digits to the left or right.

Question 25

Most Significant Bit

Answer 25

The furthest left digit in a string of binary numbers, its position means it has the highest value.

Question 26

Least Significant Bit

Answer 26

The furthest right digit in a string of binary numbers, its position means it has the lowest value.

Question 27

Character Set

Answer 27

The complete set of characters available to the computers

Question 28

ASCII

Answer 28

A 7 bit code to represent a set of characters available to the computer

Question 29

Extended ASCII

Answer 29

A full 8 bit code, introducing space for a further 128 characters

Question 30

Unicode

Answer 30

A 16 bit universal character set used to represent a range of language symbols and billions of possible characters.

Question 31

Pixel

Answer 31

Picture Element, the smallest element of an image, of which several can make up the image.

Question 32

Colour depth

Answer 32

The number of bits available for colours in an image. The higher the colour depth the more colours available and the more realistic the image

Question 33

Metadata

Answer 33

Additional information about an image, stored with data to enable recreation of that image/ sound / document. The information is for example, location or author.

Question 34

Resolution

Answer 34

The number of pixels an image is divided into. The higher the resolution, the more pixels in the image and the clearer it will be.

Question 35

Sample rate

Answer 35

The number of samples taken in one second. This is measured in Hertz (Hz). The more samples taken, the higher the sample rate and the better the quality is of the file.

Question 36

Bit depth

Answer 36

The number of bits available for each sample. The higher the bit depth, the more bits available and therefore the better the quality.

Question 37

Analogue

Answer 37

A continuously varying signal, usually represented as a curved line. Examples include sound or temperature recordings.

Question 38

Lossy compression

Answer 38

Compression technique that removes some of the original data, which is lost permanently.

Question 39

Lossless compression

Answer 39

Compression technique that does not lose any of the original data, and the original file CAN be recovered.