Which storage device is characterized by a series of stacked platters?

The correct answer is that a RAID system can be characterized by a series of stacked platters, but it's important to clarify that RAID is not solely about the physical characteristics of the storage devices it encompasses. RAID, or Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into a single logical unit for improved performance and redundancy. In many RAID configurations, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, or RAID 5, traditional hard drives that use platters are often employed, which are responsible for reading and writing data.

While RAID can include solid state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, or external hard drives as part of its array, when specifically discussing the characteristic of "stacked platters," you're referring to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). These types of drives contain one or more platters coated with magnetic material, which spin and allow read/write heads to access data.

In contrast, SSDs use flash memory and do not contain any moving parts or platters. USB flash drives utilize a similar principle as SSDs and also lack platters. External hard drives can consist of HDDs, but their characterization typically pertains more to their external casing rather than the internal components specifically.