Computer Science learning for school students (2024)

7. Compact Disks

Compact disks are known as optical storage devices.

Data is burned onto the surface of the disk using a laser beam in the CD drive. A laser beam is also used to read the data stored on the disk.

Computer Science learning for school students (13)

A CD can store around 650 Mb of data. A typical MP3 song is about 3Mb and so a CD can hold about 200 songs.

Compact Disks come in two main forms:

CD-ROM - CD Read Only Memory. Data can only be written once i.e. once the pits are burnt on to the surface, that part of the disk cannot be used again for storage although it can be re-played endless times. Most music discs are of this format.

An old-fashioned name for this is CD-WORM meaning Write-Once-Read-Many but it is hardly a common description these days. You can store more than one data session on a single disk. This is called a 'multi-session' option. This simply means the burner allocates another part of the disk to the next 'session'. CDROMs are more popular than CD-RW because they are so cheap - a few pence each.

CD-RW - CD ReWriteable. This means that you can save data to your disk over and over again, but they are more expensive than the standard CDROM and a USB memory stick can hold much more data in any case.

Advantages of CDs Disadvantages of CDs
Small and portable Fairly fragile, easy to snap or scratch
Very cheap to produce Smaller storage capacity than a hard drive or DVD
Most computers can read CDs. If there is no CD drive, a DVD drive can usually read them Slower to access than the hard disk.
Fairly fast to access the data - quicker than magnetic tape
Properties of a compact disk (CD)
Property Notes
Type of storage Optical
Data access Direct access
Cost of storage CDs cost more per byte of storage than DVDs, hard disks, magnetic tapes or flash memory
Capacity 650 Megabytes
Speed Slower than a hard disk or flash memory, faster than magnetic tape
Portability

Fairly portable. Too large to fit into a pocket, but will easily fit inside a bag. Can be carried between home/school/office.

Durability

Easily scratched by general wear and tear or by not protecting it in a plastic case. Scratches on the disk surface can damage the data being stored

Needs to be protected from extremes of heat.

The CD-RW version has a limited number of read/write cycles.

Reliability

If scratched, the data might not be able to be read.

Needs a computer with a CD or DVD drive in order to read the disk.

Challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

Click on this link: Compact Disk

Computer Science learning for school students (2024)

FAQs

How hard is learning computer science? ›

Learning the discipline of Computer Science is a hard and difficult endeavor for most students. However, if you are willing to invest the time and learn serious time management skills, most students can successfully learn the discipline and pursue successful careers in Computer Science fields.

Is computer science hard in school? ›

Earning a computer science degree has been known to entail a more intense workload than you might experience with other majors because there are many foundational concepts about computer software, hardware, and theory to learn. Part of that learning may involve a lot of practice, typically completed on your own time.

What do computer science students struggle with most? ›

An exploratory factor analysis of these questions revealed four factors—personal obligations, lack of sense of belonging, in-class confusion, and lack of confidence—that capture a range of possible struggles students may face.

What is the hardest part of learning computer science? ›

Learning about lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, optimization, and code generation is a formidable task. It requires a deep understanding of programming languages, formal grammars, and the underlying architecture of computers.

Is computer science a lot of math? ›

Because math is a foundational part of computer systems, every programmer and computer scientist needs to have basic mathematical knowledge. The type and level of math you need depends on what areas of computer science you want to work in. Some computer science career tracks require only minimal mathematical knowledge.

What is the easiest way to learn computer science? ›

How to learn about computer science
  1. Research different areas of computer science. Learning more about the different subfields within computer science may provide you with a better understanding of what you want to study. ...
  2. Learn the basics of coding. ...
  3. Study computer programming. ...
  4. Select a specialty. ...
  5. Continue your education.
Feb 3, 2023

Can an average person pass computer science? ›

Computer science isn't that hard, as long as you're comfortable with basic math and statistics, and you're willing to put in the time to read the course material. You'll be able to excel in this major with some persistence and dedication.

What is the easiest subject in computer science? ›

Easiest Types of Computer Science Degrees
  • Database systems.
  • Programming languages.
  • Software development lifecycle.

How many students fail computer science? ›

A recent survey from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), revealed that among universities, Computer Science has the highest dropout rate – 9.8%. Followed by Business studies at 7.4% dropout rate, and then Engineering and Technology degrees closing the top of the dropout chart at a 7.2% dropout rate.

What is the most difficult course in computer science? ›

Top 7 Toughest Courses In Computer Science Engineering
  • Theory of Computation. Students will learn how to use computers while being aware of their limitations. ...
  • Artificial Intelligence. ...
  • Advanced Database Systems. ...
  • Compiler Design. ...
  • Algorithms. ...
  • Discrete Math. ...
  • Computer Architecture.

Which is harder, IT or computer science? ›

You may find yourself comparing computer information systems vs computer science. While the two degrees do overlap, computer science programs generally give students a more thorough and complex knowledge of the design of computers and computational processes.

Why do so many people drop out of computer science? ›

It also says that 53% dropped out because they weren't getting enough value for their money, 50% because they were not interested, and 33% because it was too hard.

What is the biggest problem in computer science? ›

It's hard to overstate the stakes surrounding the most important unsolved problem in computer science. P versus NP concerns the apparent asymmetry between finding solutions to problems and verifying solutions to problems.

Is computer science a lot of problem-solving? ›

Computer science is the study of problems, problem-solving, and the solutions that come out of the problem-solving process. Given a problem, a computer scientist's goal is to develop an algorithm , a step-by-step list of instructions for solving any instance of the problem that might arise.

Is computer science degree very hard? ›

Computer science is hard because of its steep learning curve, especially if you're unfamiliar with computer programming. It's like learning a new language from scratch. The subject matter is highly theoretical. Moreover, the practical side, such as programming, often involves more debugging than creative development.

How hard is computer science as level? ›

Is A Level Computer Science hard? A Level Computer Science is challenging. To excel, you will need to develop a thorough understanding of programming concepts, algorithms, and data structures, and learn how to practically apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Is getting a computer science job difficult? ›

Starting a career in computer science isn't as easy as graduating and showing up to a job interview. While new grads can expect a friendly job market, a candidate's competitive edge comes from specific expertise in a particular branch of computer science.

How long does it take to learn computer science? ›

Traditional Degree: It takes about four years to complete a bachelor's degree in computer programming or computer science in a traditional college or university setting. Your first year or two will likely consist of general education requirements, with your last two years focusing on programming in various languages.

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