Magnetic tape facts for kids
Magnetic tape is a special kind of long, thin strip of plastic. It's covered with a very thin layer of magnetic material. Most recording tapes, whether for sound, video, or computer data, are made this way.
Magnetic tape works by moving past a special part called a recording head. When you record something, electrical signals go to this head. This creates a magnetic pattern on the tape that matches the signal. Later, a playback head can read these magnetic changes and turn them back into electrical signals, which become sound, video, or data.
Machines that record and play sound using magnetic tape are often called tape recorders. Machines for video are called videotape recorders. For computers, devices that store data on magnetic tape are known as tape drives. Sometimes, these systems use special machines to handle many tapes automatically.
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The History of Magnetic Tape
Magnetic tape was first invented in Germany in 1928 by a person named Fritz Pfleumer. He created it to record sound. His first invention used a powder called iron oxide (Fe2O3) spread onto a long strip of paper.
Magnetic tape has been used for storing computer data for more than 50 years. Over this time, the technology has gotten much better. Today, magnetic tape is usually found inside small cases called cartridges or cassettes.
Even though newer technologies like CDs and DVDs have replaced magnetic tape for many things, new improvements are still being made. Tape is still used a lot, especially for certain jobs.
How Magnetic Tape is Used Today
Magnetic tape is very useful for storing huge amounts of information. It can be cheaper than other ways to store data, like computer disks. Because of this, tape storage has always been popular with large computer systems.
Today, magnetic tape is often used to make backup copies of important data or to keep old information safe for a long time. As of 2019, the biggest tape cartridge could hold an amazing 330 terabytes (TB) of data without even using special compression to make it smaller!
Finding Information on Tape
Magnetic tape stores data in a special way called Sequential access. This means you have to read the data in order, from the beginning to the end. Imagine a movie on a tape – you have to fast-forward or rewind to find a specific scene.
Because of this, it takes longer to find a random piece of information on tape compared to a disk. A tape drive has to wind the tape to get to the right spot, which takes more time.
Related pages
Images for kids
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This is a 7-inch reel of ¼-inch-wide audio recording tape, common for home use in the 1950s to 1970s.
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A VHS helical scan head drum. This special design helped record video on tapes, not just sound.
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A small open reel of 9 track tape, used for computers.
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Quarter inch cartridges were a popular way to store computer data in the 1980s and 1990s.
See also
In Spanish: Cinta magnética para niños
