Does an empty hard drive weigh less than a full hard drive? How is that information stored and why/why don’t we notice this from the total mass?
Answer
Dear Koen,
Digital data in itself has no weight. It is the data carrier (hard disk, CD-ROM, …) that weighs.
The data on it does not affect this weight.
On a hard disk, the data is stored magnetically, ie the tiny electrons on the hard disk are oriented in one direction or another, forming a zero or a one.
An “empty” hard disk with, for example, all zeros on it means that all electrons are in the same direction.
So when we write data on that disk, one will also be written and in some places the direction of the electrons will change.
However, the number of electrons always remains the same, so the weight does not change.
Kind regards.
Answered by
ing. Mario Wyns
Computer Hardware Electronics Assembler Microcontrollers Interfacing Light Technology
Brothers De Smetstraat 1 9000 Ghent
http://www.odisee.be
.