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Possible Duplicates:
How much does a gigabyte worth of data physically weigh on a hard disk?

And the same question on CD-ROM, floppy disk and Flash drives?

Community
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Lenik
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2 Answers2

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No. The data on a HDD is stored in bits. These bits are essentially magnetic switches that are ether at 0 or 1. so there is no weight loss or gain each time data is written because the switch doesn't move, just the position.

For a CD, essentially a laser change the color of the CD track, almost like a switch being changed from a 0 to a 1. However because in the majority of cases this is done through a process of burning, the effect is irreversible.

I don't know about floppy disks.

wizlog
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I wouldn't think so, given that hard drives simply rely on a pattern of magnetization to store the data. As data is not physically transferred to the platters, the drive cannot increase in mass. The same goes for CD-ROM, floppy disks, and flash drives.

fideli
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  • @DragonLord But where would the mass go on a sealed CD-R for example? – AndrejaKo Nov 01 '11 at 07:56
  • @Dragonlord: the pits on mass-produced CDs are pressed - the matter is merely displaced, not removed. The "pits" on CD-RW are areas of alloy heated by high-power laser until they change from a reflective polycrystalline state to a darker amorphous state, no matter is removed. – RedGrittyBrick Nov 01 '11 at 10:10
  • I'm sorry for this mistake. The comment relates to CD-R discs only. – bwDraco Nov 01 '11 at 12:58