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Laser Technology Introduction

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Laser Technology Introduction

The surf lifesaving club is choosing equipment for a beach safety display. Read the science notes, solve the challenges and help Matilda and Jarrah make safe choices. Never shine a laser at a person, animal, vehicle or reflective surface.

Laser science notes

A laser makes a narrow, concentrated beam of light. Torch light spreads out more. Laser light can be different colours, not only red. Lasers are used in barcode scanners, some medical treatments, and tools that measure distance. The word LASER is shortened from “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. You do not need to memorise the full phrase to understand the key idea: lasers produce focused light. Bright laser light can damage eyes, so lasers must only be used by trained adults and never pointed at people or animals.

Club equipment challenge

Matilda is helping prepare a display about useful technology at the surf lifesaving club. Answer each question using the science notes and your own reasoning.

1.A shop scanner reads the barcode on a first-aid kit. What property of laser light makes it useful for this job?

It forms a narrow, concentrated beam.
It always makes objects warm.
It spreads out in every direction like a torch.
It can only be seen at night.

2.Jarrah says, “All lasers are red.” Is Jarrah correct? Explain your answer in one sentence.

3.Complete the idea: Compared with a torch beam, a laser beam is usually more and .

4.Match each laser use to what it helps do.

Barcode scanner
Distance-measuring tool
Some medical treatments

Help treat a health problem
Read product codes
Measure how far away something is

5.At a club demonstration, Anh-Mae sees a laser pointer on a table. Which action is the safest?

Ask a trained adult to manage it and keep it pointed away from people and animals.
Pick it up and test it by shining it towards a mirror.
Point it at a friend’s shoes to show how bright it is.
Look into the beam to check its colour.

6.Name two things a laser should never be pointed at.

7.The club needs to check how far a rescue sign is from a safe viewing point. Which laser use from the notes could help, and what would it measure?

8.Why can a laser be useful for scanning a barcode, but dangerous if it reaches someone’s eyes? Give one reason for each part.

9.The word LASER is shortened from “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. Which word in that phrase names the kind of energy we can see?

10.Invent a helpful laser use for a surf lifesaving club. Describe what it would help people do and include one safety rule for your idea.