Final answer:
Main memory, which refers to volatile RAM in computers, is lost when the computer is powered off. It is not more permanent, it is not long-term, and it is faster compared to secondary memory, like hard drives. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main memory is often equated to short-term memory in humans, where information is temporarily stored before it is either discarded or transferred to long-term memory. When it comes to computers, main memory refers to Random Access Memory (RAM), which is volatile.
This means that the data in main memory is lost when the computer is powered off. It is not more permanent than secondary memory, which typically refers to non-volatile storage such as hard drives or solid-state drives where data is retained even when powered off. Main memory is also not long-term memory in the context of data storage.
Finally, it is faster, not slower than secondary memory, providing quick access to data and instructions that the CPU needs in real-time.
Main memory, also known as primary memory or RAM (Random Access Memory), is a type of computer memory that is directly accessible to the CPU (Central Processing Unit). It is volatile, which means that the data stored in main memory is lost when the computer is powered off. This makes option a. 'lost when the computer is powered off' the correct answer.