Magnetic Disk Definition/Meaning:
A storage medium in the form of a circular plate coated on one or
both sides with a magnetic film. The disk substrate may be rigid, in which case
it is usually made of an aluminum alloy, or it may be flexible, in which case it
is usually a polyester. The coating may be a compound of ferric oxide in a
binder or a thin metallic plating of an alloy such as cobalt/ nickel or
cobalt/chrome. Metallic coatings have advantages in being homogeneous, having a
better hysteresis loop shape, and allowing storage densities 10 times that
achievable with conventional ferric oxide coatings. Flexible disks (i.e. floppy disks) with oxide coating provide low-cost lightweight media that can be handled
in a normal office environment. Magnetic disks used in computer peripheral
equipment range in diameter from 3" to 36" (76-914 mm).
See also disk pack, disk
cartridge, disk drive.
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