Solid-state (flash) storage

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which statement about solid-state storage is correct?

A It stores data in flash memory chips with no moving parts

B It stores data on spinning platters read by a moving head

2. A student unplugs a USB drive. What happens to the files stored on it?

A The files stay, because flash storage is non-volatile

B The files are lost, because flash storage is volatile

3. Which device is an example of solid-state storage?

A CD-ROM

B SD card

4. Why is an SSD usually better than an HDD in a laptop that is carried around in a school bag?

A It has a spinning disk inside, so it is tougher when dropped

B It has no moving parts, so it is less likely to be damaged by knocks

5. Which pair of words names the two main types of flash memory technology?

A NAND and NOR

B RAM and ROM

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1SSD		Apower_off -> data kept
2NAND flash		BThe type of flash memory most used in SSDs, SD cards and USB drives, which stores lots of data in a small space
3Solid-state storage has no moving parts, so it is silent and not damaged by spinning or moving heads		CSSDs have no spinning platters or lasers. They store data in flash memory chips. Spinning platters belong to a hard disk drive.
4Solid-state storage is non-volatile, so data stays when the power is switched off		Dmoving_parts = 0
5An SSD stores data on spinning platters read by a laser		EA solid-state drive: flash memory chips with no moving parts, used as the main secondary storage in many laptops and PCs
6Flash memory is volatile, so a USB drive loses its data when unplugged		FFlash memory is non-volatile, so a USB drive keeps its data when unplugged or when the power is off.

Definitions

solid-state storage

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Solid-state storage has no ______ parts

Flash storage is ____________ memory

Two flash types are ____ and NOR

SD card, USB drive and ___

Flash data is stored in memory _____

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A DEVICE ← "SSD"

B MEDIUM ← "flash chips"

C MOVING_PARTS ← TRUE

Question 2

A DEVICE ← "USB drive"

B MEDIUM ← "flash chips"

C MOVING_PARTS ← FALSE

D VOLATILE ← TRUE

Question 3

A DEVICE ← "SD card"

B MEDIUM ← "flash chips"

C VOLATILE ← FALSE

D USES_PLATTERS ← TRUE

Question 4

A DEVICE ← "SSD"

B POWER ← "OFF"

C DATA_KEPT ← FALSE

Question 5

A FLASH_TYPE1 ← "NAND"

B FLASH_TYPE2 ← "NOT"

C BOTH_USE ← "transistors"

Answer Key

Solid-state (flash) storage

Section A: Quick Questions

A — It stores data in flash memory chips with no moving parts

A — The files stay, because flash storage is non-volatile

B — SD card

B — It has no moving parts, so it is less likely to be damaged by knocks

A — NAND and NOR

Section B: Match the Pairs

SSD → A solid-state drive: flash memory chips with no moving parts, used as the main secondary storage in many laptops and PCs

NAND flash → The type of flash memory most used in SSDs, SD cards and USB drives, which stores lots of data in a small space

Solid-state storage has no moving parts, so it is silent and not damaged by spinning or moving heads → moving_parts = 0

Solid-state storage is non-volatile, so data stays when the power is switched off → power_off -> data kept

An SSD stores data on spinning platters read by a laser → SSDs have no spinning platters or lasers. They store data in flash memory chips. Spinning platters belong to a hard disk drive.

Flash memory is volatile, so a USB drive loses its data when unplugged → Flash memory is non-volatile, so a USB drive keeps its data when unplugged or when the power is off.

Section C: Definitions

solid-state storage — Storage that keeps data in flash memory chips with no moving parts. It is non-volatile, so data stays when power is off. Examples are SSD, SD card and USB drive.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Solid-state storage has no moving parts

Flash storage is non-volatile memory

Two flash types are NAND and NOR

SD card, USB drive and SSD

Flash data is stored in memory chips

Section E: Spot the Error

C — Solid-state storage has no moving parts, because data is held in electronic flash chips. It should be MOVING_PARTS ← FALSE.

D — Flash storage is non-volatile, so data is kept when the power is off. It should be VOLATILE ← FALSE.

D — An SD card stores data in flash chips, not on magnetic platters. Platters belong to hard disk drives. It should be USES_PLATTERS ← FALSE.

C — An SSD is non-volatile, so its data is still kept when the power is off. It should be DATA_KEPT ← TRUE.

B — The two flash memory technologies are NAND and NOR. NOT is a logic gate, not a type of flash memory. It should be "NOR".