Final answer:
File systems must be aware of disk characteristics to efficiently manage data due to the physics involved in how storage devices operate.
Step-by-step explanation:
File systems need to be aware of disk characteristics to manage data storage and retrieval efficiently and effectively. This awareness is essential due to the underlying physics that govern the operation of disk drives. For instance, engineering technology like computer storage relies on a deep understanding of magnetism, a key aspect of physics, to design systems that can store data on magnetic media. Physics plays a crucial role in understanding how different disk characteristics, such as platter speed, seek time, and data density, affect the performance of file systems. Moreover, understanding physical principles allows engineers to predict and mitigate issues related to heat generation, data integrity, and the physical limits of data storage technologies.