Final answer:
The four types of DVDs vary in capacity: DVD-5 holds 4.7 GB, DVD-10 holds 9.4 GB, DVD-9 holds 8.5 GB, and DVD-18 holds 17 GB. These capacities are made possible by the precision of laser technology used to read and write data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four different types of a DVD can hold varying amounts of data, depending on their structure and whether they are single-layer or dual-layer, and single-sided or double-sided. The standard storage capacities are:
- Single-layer, single-sided DVD (DVD-5): 4.7 GB
- Single-layer, double-sided DVD (DVD-10): 9.4 GB
- Dual-layer, single-sided DVD (DVD-9): 8.5 GB
- Dual-layer, double-sided DVD (DVD-18): 17 GB
DVDs use laser technology to read and write data. The precision of the laser allows for high data density, and the short-wavelength lasers used in systems like Blu-ray increase this density further. As technology has advanced, we have seen the rise of Blu-ray discs that use a blue-violet laser (with a shorter wavelength than the red laser used for DVDs) to achieve even higher data capacities.