http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD_Audio_track_shortcut
An audio CD is different from a data CD in, well, more ways than I know. But one main difference is that on an audio CD, you don't directly see or interface with the information pressed or burnt onto it (when viewing it on a computer). The .cda files are just shortcuts for each track. Don't worry, the information is all there.
Now if you really want to wrap your head around something, look into read and write offsets, both learning how to calculate them and how to set them in Exact Audio Copy. Assuming you are using a PC with Windows, you really should learn to use Exact Audio Copy, as that is the custom around here and it's not a bad idea to let it bleed over into your personal practice. I'd link you to a whole bunch of stuff, but I'll just wait for Five and his sig o' useful information to find its way here and either the man or the sig can give you more instruction.
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