MAGNETIC RECORD Meaning and
Definition
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A magnetic record refers to information that is stored, encoded, or recorded using magnetic fields on a medium, typically a tape, disk, or other storage device. It is a method of storing data where the recording medium is coated with a magnetic material that can be magnetized in different directions to represent binary code.
In the context of audio and video recording, magnetic records are widely used. Magnetic tapes, for instance, are commonly used to store audio recordings on cassette tapes and video recordings on video cassettes. When an audio or video signal is recorded onto a magnetic tape, tiny magnetized particles on the tape surface align themselves according to the input signal, creating a pattern that represents the original sound or visual information. During playback, the magnetic head reads these magnetized patterns and converts them back into electrical signals that produce sound or images.
Similarly, in the context of computer storage, magnetic records are widely used in hard disk drives. A hard disk drive consists of one or more disks coated with a magnetic material, with a magnetic head for reading and writing data. The magnetic records on these disks represent digital information in the form of binary code (0s and 1s), and the magnetic head reads and writes the magnetized areas on the disks to store and retrieve data.
Overall, magnetic records are widely used in various fields to store and retrieve information through the manipulation of magnetic fields on a recording medium.
Etymology of MAGNETIC RECORD
The etymology of the word "magnetic record" can be broken down as follows:
1. Magnetic: The word "magnetic" derives from the Latin word "magnēticus", which in turn comes from the Greek word "magnētikos". The Greek term refers to something related to the region of Magnesia in Thessaly, Greece, known for its magnetic iron ore. The word "magnetic" describes the property of attraction exhibited by magnets and magnetic materials.
2. Record: The word "record" originates from the Latin word "recordārī", which means "to remember". In English, "record" refers to a written account or document of an event or information. Over time, the term expanded to encompass various forms of storage, both physical and digital, such as written records, audio recordings, and video recordings.
