P3.1b (Other applications of light)

Question 1

Fill in the blanks: A laser produces an intense _____ beam of light. Laser light has a ____ divergence - which means that it spreads out very little.

Answer 1

Narrow

Low

Question 2

What can lasers be used for?

Answer 2

Cutting through material.
Burning
Cauterising

Question 3

How can lasers be used in eye surgery?

Answer 3

Lasers are used in eye surgery to repair damaged retinas and to correct vision defects. A laser can be used to precisely cut the cornea, altering its shape to correct a person’s vision.

Question 4

What is an optical fibre?

Answer 4

An optical fibre is a thin rod of high-quality glass. Light getting in at one end undergoes repeated total internal reflection - even when the fibre is bent - and emerges at the other end.

Question 5

What are optical fibres used for?

Answer 5

High-speed communications such as cable TV and broadband services.
Endoscopes