How a CD-ROM Works

Bill Holmes Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Overview

CD is standard for installing computer programs Uses CD-ROM media (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) 650 Mb. capacity compared to 1.44 Mb. for floppy disks

Pits (holes) and Lands (plateaus) store the data (1s and 0s)

http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~filmhis/resources/CD-ROM.gif

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/cd1.htm

Parts Overview

Tray motor

Ejects and pulls in CD tray

Read head

Shines light on CD and reads reflection

Spins the CD at various speeds

Spin motor

Reading Data From a CD

Laser shines light on disk Pits and lands reflect light differently Reflected light is picked up by sensor Sensor changes light to electrical signal for the computer Motor moves the head to read all parts of the spinning CD.

Demo:
http://entertainment. howstuffworks.com/ cd2.htm

CD Finish

CD spins between 200 and 500 RPM depending on position of the head

Faster near center Slower near edge That way data comes off disk at same rate Demo: bottom of http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/cd2.htm

Clean with soft damp cloth Handle by edges only, dont touch surface