(b) Explain each of the following types of storage media used in a computer system: (i) magnetic media; (ii) optical media. (4 marks)November 2022

(i) Magnetic Media: Magnetic media is a type of storage that uses magnetic particles to store data. This includes hard disk drives (HDD), floppy disks, and magnetic tapes. Data is stored on the magnetic media by aligning the magnetic particles in a particular pattern, which can be read and written to by a magnetic head.

Hard disk drives (HDD) are the most common type of magnetic storage. They consist of one or more rotating disks coated with magnetic material, and a read/write head that moves across the disk surface to read and write data. They are used to store the operating system, applications, and data files, and have large storage capacities.

Floppy disks and magnetic tapes are another type of magnetic storage media, but they are less common today. They are used for backup and archival purposes, and have less storage capacity than hard drives.

(ii) Optical Media: Optical media is a type of storage that uses a laser to read and write data. This includes compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), and Blu-ray discs. Data is stored on the optical media by burning small pits or marks into the surface of the disc, which can be read by a laser.

Compact discs (CDs) have been used for storing music, photos, and data files for many years. They have a storage capacity of about 700 MB. Digital versatile discs (DVDs) have a larger storage capacity of about 4.7 GB and can be used to store videos and other large files. Blu-ray discs have even larger storage capacity of up to 50 GB and are used to store high-definition videos and other large files. Optical storage media is used for backup and archival purposes, and as a distribution medium for music, movies and software.