Page 328 - Microsoft Word - LessonPlan-Overview.doc
P. 328
Unit 9: Light Page 23
cookies, and picture how they they’ll be clapping and stamping
would bounce all over the place. together. You can do the same
You’d have half of the kids having with light – when you focus the
very high-energy levels, while the energy into a narrow beam, it’s
other half would be sitting down in much more powerful than having it
a lower energy state. The sugar- scattered all over the place. That’s
kids’ energy is infectious, though, just what a laser is – a high-
and pretty soon, the rest of the energy, highly-focused beam of
kids are joining in and sharing in light.
their excited energy. This is how a
laser “charges” the atoms inside Laser Safety
the gas medium – by only Before we start our laser
energizing half the atoms, and experiments, you'll need eye
allowing the other half to get protection – tinted UV ski goggles
excited just by being near the first are great to use, as are large-
half. framed sunglasses, but understand
that these methods of eye
Imagine those sugar kids zooming
protection will not protect your
all over the playground, a mixture
eyes from a direct beam. They are
of joy and chaos. Light from an
intended as a general safety
incandescent light bulb works the
precaution against laser beam
same way – the bulb emits high
scatter.
energy photons that bounce all
over the place. Can you round up
the kids and get them to jumping
in unison? Sure you can – just hit
the play button on a song, and
© 2010 Supercharged Science www.ScienceLearningSpace.com
328
