Semiconductor memory

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/semiconductor-memory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core technology?Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) transistors forming memory cells on silicon integrated circuits
2. What is the key differentiating feature?Random access capability, allowing constant-time data retrieval from any location
3. What is semiconductor memory and why is it called "memory"?Semiconductor memory is a tiny chip that stores 0s and 1s using silicon and MOS transistors. It lets computers remember information quickly, like a memory box.
4. How does semiconductor memory get data so fast?It uses random access, so any spot can be reached in the same short time. The speed is measured in nanoseconds, much faster than old magnetic tapes.

Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS): A type of field-effect transistor fundamental to modern integrated circuits and memory.
Static RAM (SRAM): Fast, non-volatile RAM that uses multiple transistors per bit and does not require refreshing.
Dynamic RAM (DRAM): Denser, cheaper RAM that uses a capacitor and transistor per bit, requiring periodic refreshing.
Non-Volatile Memory: Memory that retains data without power, including EPROM, EEPROM, and Flash memory.