Chapter 4 class 9th Short Questions 

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Q1: What is Main Memory?
Ans: Main Memory: 
Main memory is most important part of computer used to store data and
instructions that are currently is used. It is very fast but limited in capacity. A
computer can not work without main 
memory.
Q2: What is RAM?
Ans: RAM: 
RAM stands for random access memory. It is a primary storage device used to
store the data and instructions temporarily. When the power is turned off, the
instructions in RAM is lost. Thus it is 
called volatile memory.
Q 3: What are the characteristics of RAM?
Ans: Characteristics of RAM: 
Main characteristics of RAM are given below The contents of the memory are lost
when the electricity supply is cut off so the main memory is 
volatile. (ii) CPU can read and write information from RAM, so it is called read
write memory. (iii) Any part of RAM can be directly accessed, so it called Random
Access memory. (iv) It has fast speed.
Q 4: What is DRAM?
Ans: DRAM: 
DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory. DRAM is the most commonly
used technology to build RAM chips. In order to maintain data in DRAM chip, the
chip is refreshed 
frequently, otherwise data may be lost. DRAM is slow in speed.
Q5: What is SRAM?
Ans: SRAM: 
SRAM stands for Static Random Access Memory. SRAM is faster and expensive
more than DRAM and it does not need to be refreshed. It is normally used to
build a very fast memory known as cache 
memory.
Q 6: What is cache memory?
Ans: CACHE MEMORY: 
A cache is a small and very fast memory. It is designed to speed up the transfer of
data and instructions. It is faster than RAM. The data and instructions that are
most frequently used by CPU 
are stored in cache memory.
Q7: What is ROM?
Ans: ROM: 
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. The manufacturer of ROM writes the data
and program permanently into it and this data and program can not be changed.
So it is called read only memory. ROM is also called non volatile memory because
when the power is switched off, the instructions 
stored in ROM are not lost.
Q 8: What is PROM?
Ans: PROM: 
PROM stands for Programmable Read Only Memory. It is initially blank chip and
the user can write his own data and program on it by using special devices. Once
a instructions are written on it can not 
be changed or altered.
Q9: What is EPROM?
Ans: EPROM: 
EPROM stands for Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. It is initially blank
chip and the user can write his own data and program on it by using special
devices. Unlike PROM, a user can 
changed or altered the data by using ultraviolet rays.
Q 10: What is EEPROM?
Ans: EEPROM: 
EEPROM stands for Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. In
this memory, user can erased and write instructions with the help of electrical
pulses. The contents of EEPROM 
can be modified easily.
Q 11: What is memory measuring chart?
Ans: Following is a list of memory measuring units. 
1 Nibble 
4 bits 1 Byte 
8 bits 1 KB (Kilo Bytes) 
1024 bytes = 210 bytes 1 MB Mega Byte ) 
1024 KB = 220 bytes 1 GB (Giga Byte ) 
1024 bytes = 230 bytes 1 TB (Terabyte) 
1024 bytes = 240 bytes
Q 12: What is secondary memory?
Ans: Secondary Memory: 
Secondary memory is also called permanent memory or auxiliary memory. It is
inexpensive, slow in speed and large storage capacity as compared to primary
memory. The storage capacity in GB. 
Secondary storage devices are also used for backup of data.
Q 13: What is floppy disk?
Ans: Floppy Disk: 
Floppy means soft. Floppy disk is also called diskette. A floppy disk is made of
flexible plastic, which is coated with magnetic oxide. A floppy disk is enclosed in
plastic jacket. It is mostly used for transferring data between computers and
backup of data. It has low capacity, and is very slow as compared to other storage
devices. Floppy disks come in different sizes but today the most common 
size is 3.5 inches diameter.
Q 14: What is Hard disk?
Ans: Hard Disk: 
Hard disk is also called fixed disk. It is a permanent storage device. A hard disk is
made up of more 
than one metal platter with magnetic coating on both sides. Each platter is coated
with iron oxide.
Q 15: What is Data rate?
Ans: Data Rate: 
The data rate is the number of bytes per second that the drive can read and
delivers to the CPU. The 
data rate of hard disk is normally between 5 to 40 megabytes per second.
Q 16: What is Seek Time?
Ans: Seek Time: 
The time is used to move the head to the appropriate track after reading the
address is called seek 
time.
Q 17: What is Rotational Delay?
Ans: Rotational Delay: 
When the head reaches the required track, the read/write head has to wait for
some time so that the 
required sector comes under it due to the rotation of the platter. This delay is
called Rotational delay. (
Q 18: What is Transfer Delay?
Ans: Transfer Delay: 
When the appropriate sector comes under the read/write head, it reads the data
from the disk and 
sends this data to the processor. The time consumed in this process is called the
transfer delay. (
Q 19: What is low level formatting?
Ans: Low Level Formatting: 
In low-level formatting, a drive marks the tracks and sectors on the disk. Usually
this is done by the manufacturer of the disk. In this process the starting and
ending points of each sector are written 
onto the disk/platter. This process prepares the disk to hold data.
Q 20: What is high level formatting?
Ans: High Level Formatting: 
In high-level formatting, the information about file-storage is written onto the
disk called file allocation table (FAT). It means the file allocation table is created
on the disk. This process also 
prepares the disk to hold data.
Q 21: What is compact disk?
Ans: Compact Disk: 
The most widely used storage devices are the optical storage devices. The most
prominent optical storage system is compact disk ( CD ). These disks are
approximately 5 inches in diameter and consist of reflective material. The media
which is used to store information on a CD is LASER. The 
storage capacity of CD is more than 700 MB.
Q 22: What is magnetic tape?
Ans: Magnetic Tape: 
Magnetic tape is the most popular and oldest secondary storage used to store
large amount of data and instructions permanently. The magnetic tape is a plastic
ribbon and one side coated with magnetic recording material. 
 Long Questions 
Q.1 Define RAM. Also write down different types of RAM.
Ans: Storage devices are used to store larger amount of data for long period. 
Main memory Digital computers are stored program computer that means a
program to be executed is first loaded in the memory and then instructions are
executed one by one. RAM. RAM is the primary storage device and the data and
instructions are stored temporarily in it. It takes the same amount of time to
access any location in RAM. Operations of RAM CPU can perform two types of
operations on RAM, these are 
• Read 
• Write Read operation of RAM Read operation the contents of memory location
are copied to a CPU register.
Write operation of RAM Write operation the contents of a CPU register are
copied to the memory location. 
Types of RAM RAM is usually built by using two different technologies i.e. DRAM
dynamic RAM and SRAM 
static RAM.
DRAM DRAM is the most commonly used technology to build RAM chips and
consumes a lot of power as data stored in a DRAM needs to be refreshed
periodically.
SRAM. SRAM is faster than the DRAM but it is more expensive. Unlike DRAM, the
contents of SRAM do not need to be refreshed periodically.
Cache memory Cache memory usually is very small in size as compared to the
total memory in the computer but increase the performance of a computer.
Volatile memory The content of the memory are lost when the electricity supply
is cut off so the main memory is 
volatile.
Q.2 Define ROM. Also write descriptive note on types of ROM.
Ans: The manufacturer of the ROM writes the data and programs permanently
into it and this data and 
program can not be changed afterwards. ROM is used to save frequently used
instructions and data. The data stored in ROM will not change for a very long
time.
PROM. 
- 
This form of ROM is initially blank and the user can write his own data/programs
on it by using special devices. it is obvious kind of ROM will be used for storing
data for a very long period of time.
EPROM PROM it is initially blank and programs and data can be written on it by
the manufacturer or by the user with special devices. PROM a user by using
special purpose devices and ultraviolet rays can erase the data written on it. Data
program written on it can be changed and new data can also added on this form
of ROM.
EEPROM. This kind of ROM can be re-written by using electrical devices and so
data stored on EERPM can be easily modified. EEPROM can be very useful for
taking backup of data and for keeping records that 
are updated periodically. 4.3 Hard disk
Q.3 
Define secondary memory. Write a complete note on hard disk and its working.
Ans: Secondary Memory 
Secondary storage is required to permanently store information that is not
needed in memory all of the time and which may be too large to fit into the
memory of the computer.
Categories on the base of data access Two main categories, based on the ways
of accessing data from a secondary storage device are (i) Sequential access or
serial access (ii) Random access respectively.
Hard disk. Hard disks are used to permanently store digital collection of bytes.
Data rate The data rate is the number of bytes per second that the drive can
deliver to the CPU. Rates between 5 and 40 megabytes per second are common.
Seek Time The time used to move the head to the appropriate track after reading
the address is called the seek time.
Data organization in hard disk Data is stored on the surface of a platter in sectors
and tracks. Tracks are concentric circles. The tracks are further divided into
sectors. A sector usually contains a fixed number of bytes of data i.e. 512 bytes.
The tracks on a surface are numbered from 0,1,2......n.
Low level formatting During the process of low level formatting a drive marks the
tracks and sectors on the disk. Usually this is done by the manufacturer of the
disk. In this process the starting and ending points of each sector are written onto
the platter.
High level formatting During high level formatting, the information about file
storage is written on to the disk called file allocation table. This process also
prepares the drive to bold data. Transfer delay in hard drive The appropriate
sector comes under the read /write head it reads the data from the disk and send
this data to the processor. The time consumed in this process is called the
transfer delay. 
Rotational delay in hard drive When the head reaches the required track the
read/write head ahs to wait for some time so that the required sector comes
under it due to the rotation of the platters