Magnetic tape and disks

Why is there a need for secondary storage in a computer?

• To store files for a long period of time, such as the operating system
• To hold cd's and dvd's

It is an advantage of using magnetic tape:

• Magnetic tape can hold its data for up to thirty years in the correct environment.
• Magnetic tape uses serial data access and so is very slow.

It is a disadvantage of using a hard disk as storage.

• Huge capacity, offers up to several terabytes per device.
• Not as portable as other technologies.

The discs that are used to store instruction in a magnetic hard drive are called __________.

• usb

• ssd

• platter

• actuator

Amount of time it takes to a storage device to begin reading data

• access time
• write time
• random time
• wait time

Needle on a magnetical drive that writes data to the disc

• read/write head
• read/write pit
• read/write land
• read/write needle

Magnetic storage

• Storage that uses a surface which can be magnetised to store data
• Storage that can be disconnected from the main computer unit, for example to transfer files between computers.
• Moving a data, program or file from memory onto secondary storage for later use.

What type of storage is this?

• Magnetic
• Optical
• Solid State

In order of fastest to slowest with the fastest on the left and slowest on the right, name each type of memory in order.

• Cache > RAM > Hard Drive
• Hard Drive > RAM > Cache
• RAM > Cache > Hard Drive
• RAM > Hard Drive > Cache

Which of the following would NOT be a suitable means for a wedding photographer to store pictures (choose as many as appropriate)?

• DVD

• USB Drive

• Magnetic Tape

• SD card