OCR GCSE Computer Science Teaching and Learning Resources
Chapter 4: Secondary storage
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN THE STUDENT’S BOOK
Page 29
Question
1. Explain why computers need secondary storage.
Answer
RAM is volatile and cannot retain any programs or data when the power is switched
off. Secondary storage is required to store programs and data that would otherwise be
lost when the power is turned off. Without secondary storage, all programs would
have to be created each time the computer was turned on.
Question
2. Describe the characteristics of magnetic and solid-state storage and the
advantages and disadvantages of these when used in a laptop computer.
Answer
Laptops may be subject to sudden shocks, and they operate from batteries, so solidstate will help increase battery life, reduce weight and improve the access speed to
data and programs. Solid-state drives are relatively expensive and have a limited
capacity so may increase the cost for an equivalent laptop quite significantly.
Question
3. A student uses several computers at home and at school. Describe how a flash
memory drive will help this student to manage work.
Answer
The flash drive can be used to transfer work between home and school and to keep
copies of work on home and school computers.
Question
4. State which is the most suitable secondary storage:
a) for transferring work from office to home
b) for distributing a video of a performance
c) as the main storage for a school computer network
d) for use in a camera to store digital images.
OCR GCSE Computer Science
© Hodder & Stoughton Limited 2016
OCR GCSE Computer Science Teaching and Learning Resources
Answer
a) Flash drive (other possibilities include cloud storage)
b) CD or possibly DVD (low cost, robust and easily accessible; not all home
computers will have a CD drive so flash memory is a possible answer)
c) Magnetic hard disks still offer the capacity at a reasonable cost but solid-state
drives are increasingly seen in such applications
d) Solid-state
OCR GCSE Computer Science
© Hodder & Stoughton Limited 2016