Note: this is a small but interesting extension topic that will not be assessed in the exam.
Virtual Memory refers to a slice of secondary storage which is used like main memory.
When RAM becomes full, data and instructions for open but inactive applications are temporarily moved to secondary storage. This frees up RAM for immediate tasks.
When the inactive application is needed again, its data and instructions must be moved back from secondary storage into RAM for them to be accessed by the CPU.
How would using Virtual Memory affect the computer's performance?
The computer would run much more slowly because accessing secondary storage is so much slower than accessing RAM.