Musaeus College
Rosmead Place, Colombo 7
ad P lace, Colo mbo 7
Information & Communication Technology
Grade 7
Unit 2 – Computer Storage Devices
The following pictures show how different goods have stored in relevant compartments.
The space available for storing something, in particular allocated space is called ‘Storage’
Songs, Drawings, Videos, Animations, Sounds and the things we do (documents) in the computer, we
must keep in the computer.
All these things stored in the computer as Data or Information.
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That data and information can be stored in computer storage devices. Similarly, computer
programmes which give instructions to the computer can be stored too.
Computer Storage devices
Devices which are used to store data, information and programmes that belong to computer are
known as computer storage devices.
It can hold and store information both temporarily and permanently.
It can be internal or external to a computer or any similar computing device.
Computer storage devices are 3 types according to the technology.
1. Magnetic Media Devices.
2. Optical Media Devices
3. Solid State Media Devices
1. Magnetic Media Devices.
These devices consist of a magnetic surface or a magnetic tape.
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i. Hard Disk
-The hard disk consists of a magnetized platter and a moving metal head.
-There are two different types of hard disks,
internal hard disks
External hard disks.
Internal hard disks
A large amount of data can be stored permanently.
It is inside the system unit.
External hard disk
A portable storage device.
It can be chosen in various capacities such as 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB.
ii. Magnetic Tapes
- A magnetic tape is a thin plastic tape covered with a magnetic substance.
- Commonly used in early days
- Portable
iii. Floppy Disks
- can be used to store small files.
- Commonly used in early days
- Portable
- There are 3 types of disks.
floppy disks zip disks jazz disks.
1.44 MB 250 MB 2 GB
2. Optical Media Devices
In optical media devices, data is read and written by laser beams. Optical disks are of several types. They all
are portable.
i. CD - Compact Disks
The capacity of these disks is greater than that of the floppy disks. It is 650 MB-700MB
There are two types
1. CD recordable (CD-R)
2. CD rewritable (CD-RW)
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ii. Digital Versatile Disks (DVD)
The capacity of these disks are greater than CDs. It is 4.7 GB, 8.5 GB, 15 GB and 30 GB.
They are of two types;
1. DVD-R (recordable)
data can be written once
2. DVD - RWC (rewritable).
Data can be rewritable.
iii. Blue Ray Disks
In these disks, data can be stored on several levels as 25 GB on each level.
Data can be written using Blue Laser Beams.
3. Solid State Media Devices
These devices which write and read data electronically at a high speed.
It does not have any movable part.
i. SSD Drive
ii. Pen Drive
iii. Memory Card
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Exercise
1. What are the things which we store in the computer as Data and Information?
……………………………………… ……………………………………
……………………………………… ……………………………………
……………………………………… ……………………………………
2. What are the two types of hard disk available?
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3. Name the types of Floppy disk.
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4. Name the different types of solid state media.
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………………………..
………………………..
5. Write the capacity of the following storage media.
CD ………………………..
Zip disk ………………………..
Floppy disk ………………………..
Jazz disk ………………………..
Blue Ray ………………………..
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Work Book Activity 2.2
01. What are computer storage devices?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
02. What are the things that can be stored in computer storage device?
(List five examples)
……………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………..
03. Magnetic Media Devices
Optical Media Devices
Solid State Media Devices
are the three categories of computer storage devices.
Above categorization is based on which factor?
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
04. Consider the following storage devices.
- hard disk - CD
- external hard disk - DVD
- magnetic tape - zip
Correctly insert the above devices into following table.
Magnetic media devices Optical media devices Solid state media devices
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