What are you looking for?
Optics for Kids
About Lasers
Splitting Light
Did You Know There Is Something Called “White Light”?
Regular light from the sun or from a light bulb really contains all the colors of the rainbow. But you have to split it up to see this.
Can You Split Light?
Yes! You can split up white light into its colors with a prism. For example, raindrops act like tiny prisms when they make a rainbow in the sky, and a CD can break the light up into colors because it has fine grooves like a diffraction grating or a hologram.
What Is a Laser?
A laser is a special source of light of only one pure color (or wavelength). You can't break up laser light into other colors.
What Can Lasers Do?
They Can FOCUS!
Lasers can focus on a very small spot and can shine for long distances without spreading out very much (unlike a flashlight, which spreads out a lot).
They Can Generate ENERGY!
The spot contains a lot of energy — so much that some lasers can cut through thick metal. Surgeons can even use smaller lasers as scalpels in some kinds of surgery.
They Can Carry INFORMATION!
Lower-power laser systems can send and pick up information. For example, the product code scanner in a supermarket uses a laser, lenses, rotating mirrors, and a computer to “read” bar codes from products. And the tiny laser in a CD player reads even tinier bumps and holes that record the music like Morse code (the bumps and holes are like dots and dashes).
They Can COMMUNICATE!
Lasers can also send information through long threads of glass called optical fibers. A single laser can send thousands of phone conversations through a fiber at the same time.
They Can Make HOLOGRAMS!
Lasers can also make 3D pictures called holograms. Some engineers are working on moving holograms, so someday we may have amazing 3D TV pictures. Learn more about holograms at holocenter.org.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Please Be Careful With Lasers
Even low-power laser pointers can cause injury if they shine directly into the eyes. Children operating laser devices should be old enough to understand the safety issues and handle them safely. If they are not, an adult should supervise them.
Next Topic: About Scientists and Engineers
Continued Learning
Want help or have questions?