How Do Lasers Actually Work?

Lasers are like magic flashlights. They work by making all the light inside them go in the same direction and have the same color, just like when you shine a flashlight into a tunnel, and all the light comes out together. To make that happen, they use special materials that can be made to vibrate really fast, creating a super-focused beam of light.

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Examples

A red laser pointer is like shining a flashlight into a dark tunnel, and the light comes out all together as a bright line.
Lasers are used in barcodes, when you scan your groceries, a laser makes sure the machine reads it right.
Dentists use lasers to remove parts of teeth without making them hurt so much.

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Categories: Technology · lasers,optics,light technology