Elizabeth:

Get a child's drawing pad of the type that is made of a clear plastic
plastic writing surface over a dark and softer display surface.  I can't
remember the generic name, but you can "erase" them by lifting the clear
surface away from the other and then write on it again.

Tell the 13 year old that she is the CPU, the pad is RAM and a file
cabinet (or box of index cards, etc.) is the hard drive.  She (CPU) will
be able to open (read) the files from disc, writing them onto the pad
(memory), doing calculations in her head (CPU).  Write simple math
problems on the cards in the file to use as example.  You can even put
different required variables on different cards, or the initial
instructions (boot sector) on a card.  The possibilities are endless...

When your "computer" is turned off, the memory is "cleared" (lift
plastic), because RAM doesn't hold anything without power.  The files
"cards" in the hard drive remain.
Hope this helps.  I've found it invaluable for teaching.
Eric

ps. Don't any of you tecnocrats confuse the issue with other types of
RAM.  ;)


Elizabeth Boston wrote:
>
> I have to give a speech explaining the difference between disk
> space and Ram memory. While I understand this topic, I have not
> yet come up with an explanation that my 13 year old daughter can
> grasp.
> Does anyone have an easy to understand analogy for how ram works?
>
>      Elizabeth Boston
>       [log in to unmask]

Eric R. Outten 773-978-3478 "typito ergo sum"
[log in to unmask] - Oh! Electronic Solutions, Inc.
8835 S. Clyde Avenue - Chicago, IL 60617-2904

                                  -----
       **Need help with PCBUILD mailing list? Send an Email to:**
        Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]> or Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>