The Laser

The Laser

Tyler Willison

4th Hour Social Studies

January 2nd, 2008

Expert in Residence

The Laser



 Although you

probably think the

laser is only in

movies as a special

effect, it is used

often in everyday

life.

How the Laser works



 The laser works by the light atoms

inside of a ruby becoming stimulated

into a narrow beam that emerges from

the crystal in that ruby’s color.

History of the Laser

 The laser was invented in

1957 by a physicist known

as Gordon Gould (right).

However, before he could

get a patent, a man named

Douglas Towne took his

idea. Later, Gould sued

Towne for stealing his

design, and Gould won

after thirty years in the July

of 2000.

 Right, Gordon Gould.

Uses for the Laser



 The laser is used in

devices that read

discs, such as CDs,

DVDs, video games,

and the Blu – Ray

disk. The laser in

the Blu – Ray,

however, is blue.

 Right, a blue laser used in the Blu

– Ray video console.

Uses for the Laser



 The laser is also used in medical

procedures where more precision is

required. This can include LASEK eye

surgery, the removal of tumors, and

the killing of cancer cells. The laser is

also used as a scalpel and can replace

stitches.

Uses for the laser



 Another use for the laser is the laser

lock. This mechanism reads scans the

ridges in a person’s finger with a weak

laser, and compares them to recorded

prints in it’s computer memory.

Uses for the laser



 A laser can also be used in factories

and construction facilities as a welder

or saw. It can perform both of these

tasks because it produces such

extreme heat that metal can be fused

or cut almost instantly.

Uses for the Laser

 Yet another use for the

laser is in the military. It

can be used widely in this

field, with uses such as

defense from missiles,

protection from being found

on radar, and as a weapon,

the last of which has been

attempted often, and

involves many failures.

Right, the Greek army uses low power

lasers on rioters.

The Laser



 Even though the laser appears in

many films about the future, it is used

often in modern society and will

definitely grow in use over the next

few decades.