Data Storage Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary material used in the construction of floppy disks?

  • Rigid metal covered in magnetic paint
  • Flexible Mylar coated with iron oxide (correct)
  • Glass with a reflective coating
  • Plastic layers with aluminum coating

    • What is a potential risk when data is being accessed from a hard disk?

  • Data encryption failure
  • Sector fragmentation
  • Magnetization loss during read
  • Head crash due to improper alignment (correct)

    • What is a key feature of hard disks compared to floppy disks?

  • Greater capacity of hundreds of GB (correct)
  • Less susceptibility to data loss
  • Higher portability
  • More fragile construction

    • What does a disk drive do?

    <p>Enables data to be read from or written to a disk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a cluster in the context of hard disks?

    <p>Fixed number of adjacent sectors treated as one unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the address in a computer's main memory?

    <p>To uniquely identify each memory cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of memory is described as requiring constant refreshing?

    <p>DRAM</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the most significant bit from the least significant bit in a binary number?

    <p>The most significant bit represents the highest value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the size conversion from bytes to kilobytes?

    <p>1024 bytes = 1 kilobyte</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is true about SRAM compared to DRAM?

    <p>SRAM is faster than DRAM.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many bits are there in a byte?

    <p>8 bits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is not a feature of ROM (Read-Only Memory)?

    <p>Data can be written to it during operation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following represents a unit of data equivalent to one billion bytes?

    <p>Gigabyte</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What components make up the CPU?

    <p>Control unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of registers in a CPU?

    <p>To hold instructions or data temporarily</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following represents a Boolean operation?

    <p>To manipulate true/false values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is NOT a type of primary memory?

    <p>Secondary storage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of main memory in a computer system?

    <p>To store instructions and data of the program being executed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which operation is performed by the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?

    <p>Arithmetic and logical operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes binary notation from decimal notation?

    <p>Binary notation is restricted to the digits 0 and 1.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to data stored in volatile memory when the computer is turned off?

    <p>Data is destroyed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between accessing data on disks and tapes?

    <p>Data on disks can be accessed directly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of disk can be written to only once?

    <p>CD-R</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true about Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs)?

    <p>DVDs have a capacity up to 17GB.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a buffer in file storage and retrieval?

    <p>To temporarily hold data during transfer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which storage medium has five times the capacity of DVDs?

    <p>Blue-ray Disks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What represents a logical record in a file storage system?

    <p>A file containing naturally occurring divisions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes the nature of Flash memory?

    <p>It is nonvolatile and requires less power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of CD format may encounter compatibility issues when read on certain drives?

    <p>CD-RW</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of storing related data on the same cylinder?

    <p>To reduce access time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many bytes does a typical sector hold?

    <p>512 bytes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a cluster in the context of hard disk storage?

    <p>A variable number of adjacent sectors treated as a unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately describes a cylinder?

    <p>The track located on each surface beneath the read/write head</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What comprises the total access time for a magnetic disk?

    <p>Seek time + Head switching + Rotational delay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes rotational delay in disk access?

    <p>The rotation time for the desired data to come under the read/write head</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of storage does magnetic tape utilize?

    <p>Small magnetic spots</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes zone recording in disks?

    <p>Assigns more sectors to tracks in outer zones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main limitation of ASCII when representing text?

    <p>ASCII has insufficient patterns for many Asian languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many bits does Unicode use to represent symbols from different languages?

    <p>16 bits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does overflow in numeric representation signify?

    <p>The value is too large to be represented.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In bitmap image representation, how is a black and white image typically encoded?

    <p>Each pixel is represented by a single bit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of sampling in sound representation?

    <p>To measure the loudness of the sound wave at intervals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the RGB color model in image representation?

    <p>Combines red, green, and blue values to create colors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technique is commonly used to represent more colors in an image aside from simple pixel mapping?

    <p>RGB color model.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens during truncation in numeric representation?

    <p>The value cannot be represented accurately.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Data Storage Overview

    • Data storage encompasses various methods used to store information electronically, including bits, main memory, and mass storage.

    1.1 Bits and Their Storage

    • Central Processing Unit (CPU) has two main components: Control Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).
    • The Control Unit manages and directs operations of other computer components.
    • The ALU performs arithmetic (+, -, ×, ÷) and logical (AND, OR, XOR, NOT) operations.
    • Registers are temporary storage areas within the CPU used to hold instructions or data, addresses, and facilitate data transfer. Registers are faster than main memory. Data is stored/accepted/transferred.

    1.2 Main Memory

    • Also known as Primary Memory, or Internal Storage.
    • Holds instructions and data currently being executed by the program.
    • Crucial because programs cannot be stored indefinitely without execution and may be stored or lost by power-down.
    • Memory cells are addressed numerically; CPU can access and retrieve data at any memory location.
    • Computer programs typically employ symbolic addresses instead of numerical ones for improved readability.

    1.2.2 Main Memory Cells

    • A cell is the fundamental unit in main memory (a byte), usually 8 bits.
    • Each memory cell has a corresponding address for distinct data storage.
    • The most significant bit is typically on the left, least significant on the right.

    1.2.3 Main Memory Addresses

    • Each memory cell is assigned a unique address, typically numerical, ranging from zero.
    • Addresses help the CPU locate specific data.

    1.2.4 Bits, Bytes, and Words

    • A bit is a binary digit (0 or 1).
    • A byte is a group of 8 bits.
    • Kilobyte (KB): 1024 bytes
    • Megabyte (MB): 1,048,576 bytes
    • Gigabyte (GB): one billion bytes
    • Terabyte (TB): one trillion bytes
    • Petabyte (PB): one quadrillion bytes

    1.2.5 RAM and ROM

    • Random Access Memory (RAM): Allows reading and writing.
      • SRAM (static): faster, requires no constant power to remain.
      • DRAM (dynamic): Needs periodic power to maintain data, suitable for PC memory.
    • Read-Only Memory (ROM): Primarily for system startup; data is unchangeable.

    1.3 Mass Storage

    • Secondary storage involves external drives offering more capacity and non-volatile storage of data (retaining data even when turned off).
      • Magnetic Disk Storage
        • Floppy Disks: older storage that are now obsolete; suitable for smaller files.
        • Hard Disks (HDs): more common data storage medium, storing in platter format; offers varied platter capacities and can be removable. Multiple platters, sectors, and tracks provide significant data storage capacity. A disk drive reads/writes data using a read/write head.
        • Magnetic Tape Storage: Older sequential data storage method. Common for backup purposes due to cost-efficiency and capacity. Different tape formats exist (e.g., 3.5-inch tapes).
      • Optical Disk Storage: Data is represented by spots created by a laser beam on the disk surface.
        • Compact Disks (CDs): Optical storage devices capable of holding up to 700MB.
        • Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs): Offer significantly larger capacity than CDs; also read CD-ROMs.
        • Blue-ray Disks: More recent optical storage, offers capacity 5 times that of DVD.
      • Flash Memory: Non-volatile RAM embedded inside devices; used in devices like cell phones, digital cameras, and memory cards.

    1.3.1 How Data Is Organized in Hard Disks (HDs)

    • Track: Circular path on a disk surface for data storage; read/write heads travel along tracks.
    • Sector: Divides each track into smaller areas for precise data storage.
    • Cluster: Fixed number of adjacent sectors collectively treated as a data unit.
    • Cylinder: Consists of tracks on all platters that lie directly beneath the read/write head during a given position.

    1.3.2 Disks vs. Magnetic Tapes

    • Disks are reliable, allowing random data access.
    • Magnetic tapes are economical but require sequential data access.
    • Tapes are commonly used for backups for data on disks.

    1.4 Representing Information as Bit Patterns

    • Representing text using ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) and Unicode.
    • Representing numeric values with binary notation.
    • Representing images employing bitmaps or analytic geometry.
    • Representing sound using sampling techniques.
      • Different methods exist for encoding sound data (e.g., audio CD format, sample rate and bit depth in files).

    Files

    • Files are units of data stored in a computer system.
    • Files often consist of fields (groups of characters) and records (groups of fields) organized into logical blocks (natural divisions).
    • A key plays a vital role in uniquely identifying files or records.
    • Buffers store data temporarily for efficient data transfer.

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    Related Documents

    Data Storage Lecture Notes PDF

    Description

    Explore the fundamentals of data storage, including the roles of bits, main memory, and the components of a CPU. This quiz covers essential concepts such as registers, the Control Unit, and the Arithmetic Logic Unit. Test your understanding of how data is stored and managed in electronic systems.

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