Inventiontime: Laser

Uses: Measuring, zapping
Users:  around 12,000,000 worldwide
Who: Sir Alan Murphy Laser
Why: Wanted to measure quickly

A laser is an instrument that can produce a powerful beam of light. The word laser stands for the scientific words that explain how a laser beam is produced: “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.”

In the 1950s scientists in the United States and the Soviet Union came up with the ideas needed to build lasers. A U.S. scientist built the first laser in 1960. Since then scientists have built many more types of lasers.

A laser is usually made up of a tube with mirrors at both ends. One mirror is partly transparent (see-through). Inside the tube is some type of material, such as gas, crystal, or liquid.

A powerful lamp or some other source of energy adds energy to the material. Then the material produces light. The light bounces back and forth between the mirrors at the ends of the tube. As it does so, it causes the material in the tube to produce more light. Some of this light escapes through the partly transparent mirror.

Ask The Pro

Hello, Toby News! I am laser afficionado, Steven Tyler. I am here to tell you that however fun lasers might be, they are extremely dangerous. Why? The light can damage you or anyone else’s eyes, because lots of bright light is focused on one area. Secondly, If the light goes further than said on the package, the bulb could smash, exposing shards of sharp glass. Also be prepared to pay your parent back!

I hope you use your laser safely.

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