Computer Storage and Memory Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which statement accurately describes floppy disks?

Floppy disks are no longer in use and can store up to 1.44MB. (correct)

Floppy disks have a rigid structure and are used in modern PCs.

Floppy disks are made of flexible Mylar and suitable for high-capacity storage.

Floppy disks are primarily used for streaming data in real-time.

What is a characteristic of hard disks?

They have a single rigid platter coated with magnetic material.

They are mainly used for temporary data storage only.

They can hold hundreds of gigabytes and consist of multiple platters. (correct)

Data is read and written by a laser without physical contact.

What could happen if the read/write head of a disk drive touches the disk surface?

The read/write head adjusts for better alignment.

The disk drive automatically ejects the disk.

Data transfer speeds increase significantly.

Data becomes corrupted, a situation known as head crash. (correct)

In the context of hard disks, what does the term 'cluster' refer to?

A specified number of adjacent sectors treated as one unit by the operating system. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of magnetic disk storage?

It utilizes magnetized spots on tracks on its surface for data storage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of registers in a CPU?

To hold temporary data for arithmetic operations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a Boolean operation?

NAND Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory retains its data only while power is supplied?

Main memory Signup and view all the answers

Which describes a gate in computing?

A circuit that performs a Boolean operation. Signup and view all the answers

What binary notation represents numeric values?

Using only the digits 0 and 1. Signup and view all the answers

The term 'mass storage' is best described as:

Storage that retains data even when the power is off. Signup and view all the answers

Which operation represents a logical negation?

NOT Signup and view all the answers

Auxiliary memory is primarily used for:

Keeping data and programs for future use. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the Control Unit (CU) in relation to memory?

To refer to addresses for storing and retrieving data Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes a byte?

A group of 8 bits combined Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes SRAM from DRAM?

SRAM is static and does not need refreshing while powered Signup and view all the answers

How are main memory addresses organized?

Consecutively starting from zero to identify each memory cell Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would a computer have insufficient memory space?

When it is running multiple low-memory applications simultaneously Signup and view all the answers

What is the least significant bit in a memory cell?

The bit that holds the lowest value in binary numbers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding ROM is true?

Data in ROM remains unchanged even when power is off Signup and view all the answers

Which memory type is typically used in most PCs due to its cost advantage?

DRAM, as it is more cost-effective Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of storing related data on the same cylinder in a hard disk?

To reduce access time Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best defines a sector in the context of hard disks?

Small arcs into which each track is divided, recording bits Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic that distinguishes tapes from disks?

Tapes are sequential access devices. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'cluster' refer to in the organization of data on hard disks?

A fixed number of adjacent sectors treated as a unit Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum storage capacity of a standard CD-ROM?

700 MB Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of disk access time?

Seek time, head switching, and rotational delay Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about cylinders on hard disks is true?

They consist of the same tracks across different surfaces at the same position Signup and view all the answers

Which optical disk type allows for data to be erased and re-recorded multiple times?

CD-RW Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a DVD from a standard CD?

DVDs offer higher storage capacity. Signup and view all the answers

What does zone recording in hard disks accomplish?

Assigns more sectors to tracks in outer zones than those in inner zones Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the erase-head found in magnetic tape storage?

To erase previously stored data Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of flash memory?

It is smaller and requires less power than disk drives. Signup and view all the answers

In file storage terminology, what best defines a 'field'?

A group of characters. Signup and view all the answers

How is data typically organized in sectors on a hard disk?

Sectors typically hold a fixed number of bytes, often 512 Signup and view all the answers

In a database structure, which of the following entities contains a group of records?

File Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue with CD-RW disks when used with CD-ROM drives?

CD-RW disks often face compatibility problems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of ASCII in representing text?

To encode text in 7-bit patterns primarily for Western European languages. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of numeric value representation in computers?

Overflow and truncation errors due to limited bit patterns. Signup and view all the answers

How does Unicode differ from ASCII in representing text?

Unicode uses a larger bit pattern to accommodate more symbols. Signup and view all the answers

In bitmap image representation, what does the term 'pixel' refer to?

The smallest unit of an image that can be displayed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical bit representation for a color pixel in RGB format?

3 bytes, one for each color component. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the process used to represent sound in digital formats?

Sampling the amplitude at specific intervals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of bit patterns in representing numeric values?

They translate decimal values into binary notation. Signup and view all the answers

Which technique is used in representing grayscale images more elaborately?

Employing 8 bits to represent various shades of gray. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Data Storage Overview

Data storage encompasses the various methods of storing information, including bits, main memory, and mass storage.

Bits and Their Storage

A CPU comprises a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
The control unit manages the computer's operations.
The ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations (e.g., +, -, ×, ÷, AND, OR, XOR, NOT).
Registers are high-speed storage locations within the CPU.
Registers store data or instructions required during current processing.
Registers are faster than main memory.
Registers transfer data to/from memory and store/accept data.

Main Memory

Main memory, also known as primary memory and internal storage, stores instructions and data actively used by the program.
Main memory loses its content when the computer is turned off.
Memory uses addresses to locate data.
The CPU references memory addresses to retrieve stored information.
Memory cells, sometimes called bytes, provide storage for data and programs.
Each memory cell has a unique address.
Each location in main memory has an address.
Main memory cells are usually organized as bytes (8 bits).
Most significant bit is on the left, least on the right.

Boolean Operations

Boolean operations work with true/false values (often represented as 0/1).
Common Boolean operations include AND, OR, XOR (exclusive or), NOT.
Tables display how Boolean operations operate on 0 and 1 input values.

Gates

Logic gates are fundamental components of computer hardware.
Logic gates implement Boolean operations electronically.
Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) allows for millions of gates on a single chip.

Memory Use in Operations

Registers hold data directly related to the current process.
Main memory holds data and instructions needed soon.
Auxiliary memory holds data/programs for later use.

Binary Notation

Binary notation represents numerical values using only 0 and 1.
Computer systems primarily use binary.

Mass Storage

Mass storage includes various persistent storage formats used to store information when the computer is turned off.
- Magnetic disk drives (floppy disks, hard disks): data stored magnetically on platters or disks (used in computers).
  - Floppy disks are a type of removable disk (outdated) and usually smaller capacity
  - Hard disks are rigid (non-removable) drives in contemporary use with a substantially larger capacity.
- Magnetic tape storage: sequential data access, typically low cost and high capacity - primarily used for large archive storage or back-up systems.
  - Data stored in sequential format (must be accessed sequentially/one by one).
- Optical disk storage (CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray): data stored using laser technology to create physical patterns.
  - CDs (Compact Disks) store only up to 700MB (low capacity)
  - DVDs have a higher storage capacity.
  - Blu-ray disks have even higher storage capacity.
- Flash memory (USB drives, SD cards): data stored electrically on flash chips, portable, relatively high speed but lower storage capacity in comparison to magnetic/optical disks.

File Storage and Retrieval

Files are organized collections of data in mass storage.
Files consist of records, each of which contain fields of data and a unique key or sequence.
Data structure includes characters, fields, records, files and databases.
Buffers are temporary storage locations used for transferring data between devices.

Representing Information as Bit Patterns

All kinds of computer information are stored as bits and bit patterns.
Characters: encoded using ASCII or Unicode.
Numbers: represented using binary notation.
Images: used raster techniques or bitmaps.
Sound: stored using sampling techniques.

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Description

Test your knowledge on computer storage mediums, including floppy and hard disks, as well as various memory types and CPU functions. This quiz covers key concepts like binary notation, clusters, and the characteristics of different memory types. Ideal for students learning about computer architecture and data storage.