Technical Terms - Hardware (A-Z) - Optical Media

What type of data storage uses lasers to read data from a removable plastic disc?

• Magnetic Media

• Optical Media

• Solid State Media

• Flash Media

How are most optical discs written to?

• By using a series of bumps and pits on the top surface

• By using magnetic charges

• By stamping encoded data into the underside of a disc's metal coating

• By engraving data on the plastic disc

Which of the following optical media formats is used to distribute music, videos, games, and other software?

• CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays

• Floppy Disks

• External Hard Drives

• USB Drives

How does optical media encode digital data?

• Using magnetic charges

• By creating bumps and pits on the top surface of the disc

• By using a series of bumps and pits on the underside of the disc's metallic coating

• By using a series of grooves on the disc's metallic coating

What happens as the disc spins in the drive?

• The disc stops spinning

• A laser scans bumps and pits on the top surface

• A laser scans bumps and pits on the underside of the disc's metallic coating

• The disc changes color

What is the benefit of optical media discs in terms of manufacturing cost?

• They are inexpensive to manufacture

• They are expensive to manufacture

• They have a short lifespan

• They require special equipment for manufacturing

How long is the lifespan of optical discs when stored properly?

• A few months

• Several decades

• Indefinite

• A few years

What can damage optical discs?

• Exposure to air

• Scratches to the top and bottom surface of the disc

• High temperature

• Exposure to light

What is a drawback of optical disc data transfer rates compared to hard disk drives and SSDs?

• They are more reliable

• They are faster

• They have a longer lifespan

• They are slower

What happens to the optical media format as it evolves?

• The disc spins slower

• The size of bumps and pits increases

• The size of bumps and pits decreases

• The laser becomes wider