1.2 Memory And Storage

No description yet. This curated deck is ready for daily study.

Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

Card preview (24)

Front (Question)

What is memory ?

Back (Answer)

component of the computer that holds data, programs and instructions that are currently in use.

Front (Question)

What are the two types of Primary memory?

Back (Answer)

• ROM • RAM

Front (Question)

Which type of primary memory is volatile ?

Back (Answer)

RAM

Front (Question)

Which type of Primary memory is non-volatile ?

Back (Answer)

ROM

Front (Question)

What is the average size of Primary memory in a modern personal computer ?

Back (Answer)

4 GB

Front (Question)

What is stored in ROM ?

Back (Answer)

• The BIOS • Bootstrap

Front (Question)

What is the purpose of the BIOS ?

Back (Answer)

• Checks hardware is functioning correctly

Front (Question)

What is the purpose of the bootstrap ?

Back (Answer)

• Loads the computer’s operating system

Front (Question)

What are the properties of RAM ?

Back (Answer)

• Data can be stored and accessed from any location within the memory

#10

Front (Question)

What does the RAM hold ?

Back (Answer)

• The OS • Open documents and running programs

#11

Front (Question)

Can RAM be read from and written to ?

Back (Answer)

YES

#12

Front (Question)

What are the pros of having more RAM ?

Back (Answer)

more data and programs it can hold simultaneously

#13

Front (Question)

What is Virtual Memory ?

Back (Answer)

A section of a computer storage drive which is temporarily used as RAM.

#14

Front (Question)

What is swapping when using VM ?

Back (Answer)

The process of moving data between RAM and secondary storage when using virtual memory.

#15

Front (Question)

What are the effects of using VM ?

Back (Answer)

• Computer runs slowly • Disk thrashing

#16

Front (Question)

What is secondary storage ?

Back (Answer)

Non-volatile memory external to the CPU and used for long-term storage of programs and data.

#17

Front (Question)

Why is secondary storage needed ?

Back (Answer)

to keep programs and data indefinitely.

#18

Front (Question)

What are the three common types of secondary storage ?

Back (Answer)

• Magnetic • Optical • Solid State

#19

Front (Question)

What are the properties of Magnetic devices ?

Back (Answer)

• Fairly cheap • High capacity • Durable • Vulnerable to magnets and shock

#20

Front (Question)

How do magnetic devices work ?

Back (Answer)

• Use magnetised sections as 1 • As the disk spins a read/write head moves

#21

Front (Question)

How do optical devices work ?

Back (Answer)

• Use a laser to scan the surface • flat areas = lands = 1 • hollows = pits = 0

#22

Front (Question)

What are the three types of optical media /

Back (Answer)

• ROM • R • RW

#23

Front (Question)

How do solid state devices work ?

Back (Answer)

use non-volatile RAM to store data indefinitely

#24

Front (Question)

What are the properties of solid state devices ?

Back (Answer)

• Fairly expensive • High capacity • High durability • Portable • Reliable