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Computer Science > 1.2 Memory and Storage > Flashcards

1.2 Memory and Storage Flashcards

1
Q

What does RAM store

A

Currently in use data and programs

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2
Q

Is RAM volatile or non-volatile

A

Volatile

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3
Q

Volatile meaning

A

Temporarily memory that is lost when the computer is switched off

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4
Q

What kind of memory is RAM

A

Main memory

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5
Q

What does RAM stand for

A

Random access memory

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6
Q

What is the speed of RAM

A

Faster than secondary storage but slower than cache

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7
Q

What happens to files when they are opened and then closed

A

They go form secondary storage to RAM then back to secondary storage when closed

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8
Q

What does ROM stand for

A

Read only memory

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9
Q

Is ROM volatile or non-volatile

A

Non-volatile

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10
Q

What does non-volatile mean

A

Permanent memory even if the computer has no power

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11
Q

What is ROM on the motherboard

A

A small chip

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12
Q

What does ROM store

A

BIOS (basic input output system) which are the instructions for the computer to boot up

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13
Q

Why does ROM need to be non-volatile

A

Because it needs to retain the data when the computer is off so it can start the computer again

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14
Q

Why is secondary storage needed

A

Because RAM is volatile so it will lose everything when the computer is turned off therefore it needs somewhere to permanente store files

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15
Q

What is secondary storage

A

Long-term non-volatile storage of files and programs

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16
Q

What is the read/write speeds of secondary storage

A

Slow

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17
Q

What are the three types of secondary storage

A

Solid state, magnetic and optical

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18
Q

Name 2 examples of solid state

A

Solid state drive, memory disk

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19
Q

Name 2 examples of magnetic storage

A

Floppy disk and hard disk drive

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20
Q

Name 3 examples of optical storage

A

DVD, CD and blu-ray

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21
Q

Name 6 qualities of secondary storage

A

Cost per MB, capacity, portability, read/write speed, durability and reliability

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22
Q

Best storage for cost per MB

A

magnetic

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23
Q

Worst storage for cost per MB

A

Solid state

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24
Q

Best storage for capacity

A

Magnetic

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25
Worst storage for capacity
Optical
26
Best storage for portability
Solid state
27
Worst storage for portability
Magnetic
28
Best storage for read/write speeds
Solid state
29
Worst storage for read/write speeds
Optical
30
Best storage for durability
Solid state
31
Worst storage for durability
Magnetic
32
Best storage for reliability
Magnetic
33
Worst storage for reliability
Solid state
34
Where is virtual memory located
In secondary storage
35
Why do you need virtual memory
If RAM is full and a new program needs to be loaded into RAM, programs that haven’t been used recently are transferred to VM
36
What does virtual memory create space for and where
Creates space for a new program in RAM
37
What happens when a program is needed from virtual memory
They are moved to RAM making the computer slower as the transfer rates are slower in secondary storage than RAM
38
What is a bit
Single binary digit - 1 or 0
39
What is a nibble
4 bits
40
What is a byte
8 bits
41
What is a kilobyte
1000 bytes
42
What is a megabyte
1000KB
43
What is a gigabyte
1000MB
44
What is a terabyte
1000GB
45
What is a petabyte
1000TB
46
Name the order if data capacity’s from smallest to largest
Bit Nibble Byte Kilobyte Megabyte Gigabyte Terabyte Petabyte
47
What is a overflow error
The result of an addition that cannot fit into the number of bits available usually by a carry
48
0 + 0
0
49
1 + 0
1
50
1 + 1
10
51
1 + 1 + 1
11
52
What does one shift to the right do
Divide by two
53
What does one shift to the left do
Multiply by 2
54
Why do we use hexadecimal
It is easier for humans to read and use than binary and is less prone to mistakes
55
What is a character set
A list of defines characters, each with a unique binary code
56
What do character sets allow
Devices to communicate
57
What is ASCII
7 bits for 128 English letters/characters/numbers
58
What is extended ASCII
8 bits for 256 characters
59
What is Unicode
16 or 32 bits to express all world languages and emojis
60
Why is Unicode needed
ASCII doesn’t have enough data for other languages
61
How is analogue sound stored digitally
sampled at regular intervals where the amplitude of a sound wave is measured
62
What are the 4 factors affecting size and quality of a sound file
Sample intervals, sample frequency, bit depth and bit rate
63
What is a sample interval
The gap between each sample
64
What is a sample frequency
How many samples are taken per second
65
What happens if a sound frequency is increased
It is closer to the original
66
What is a bit depth for sound
The number of bits for each sample
67
What happens if you increase the bit depth for sound
It is higher quality and there is more detail like quieter sounds
68
What is the bit rate for sound
Number of bits per second Sample frequency x bit depth
69
How do you calculate the file size for sound
Bit rate x bit depth x duration
70
What is bit rate measured in
Hz
71
What is duration measured in
Seconds
72
What is file size measured in
Bits
73
What are images stored as
Bitmaps
74
What is a bit map made of
Thousands of tiny squares called pixels
75
What is each pixel represented by
A binary number
76
What 3 factors affect the images file size
Colour depth, resolution and metadata
77
What is the colour depth of an image
Number of bits used by each pixel to show colour
78
What does increasing the colour depth do
Increase file size as pixel can represent more colours
79
How many colours is one bit
2
80
How many colours is 1 byte
256
81
How many colours is 24 bits
16.7 million
82
What is the resolution of an image
The density of pixels in an image Width x height
83
What does a higher resolution image mean
Higher quality and larger file size
84
What is metadata
The information within the image that is used to recreate it on the screen
85
What are the 4 examples of metadata
Height, width, colour depth and resolution
86
How to work out the total number of colours in an image
2 to the power of n N is the number of bits per pixel
87
How do you work out the file size of an image
Image resolution x colour depth
88
What is file size of an image measured in
Bits
89
What does compression do
Decreases a file size
90
What does compression allow
To store more files and it makes it faster to upload/download files
91
What does lossy compression do
Permanently deletes data to reduce the file size which cannot be retrieved
92
What 3 things can lossy compression be used on
Images, audio and videos
93
What is the most effective compression
Lossy
94
What is a problem with lossy compression
It can reduce the quality of
95
What is lossless compression
When an algorithm is used to temporarily reduces a file size which can be restored to its original size and quality
96
What two things can lossless compression be used on
Word documents and executable files

Computer Science (10 decks)

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