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Unit 9: Light Page 27

Activities, Experiments, Projects

Lesson 2: Lasers

Note: This section is an abbreviated overview of the experiments online.

pass-through beam as well as a
Experiment: Laser Basics
reflected beam? Windows and clear
plastic containers will split your
Before we start building our laser
beam in two.
projects, just play with it first. Turn
off the lights at night and take your What’s going on? When you shine

laser on a hunt around the house
your laser beam through glass (like
to see what happens when you
a window) or plastic (like a soda
shine it on or through different
bottle filled with water and a tiny
things. Here are some ideas to try:
bit of cornstarch), it splits into two
beams – one that passes through,
1. Shatter the Beam: Shine your
and the other that internally
beam over the surface of an old
reflects back. You can see these
CD. Does it work better with a
reflections in a darkened fog-filled
scratched or smoother surface?
room.
You should see between 5-13
reflections off the surface of the
4. Colored Filters: Paint a piece
CD, depending on where you shine
of cellophane or stiff clear plastic
it and how well the “seeing”
with nail polish (or use colored
conditions are.
filers) to put in the laser beam.
2. Beam Scatter: Pass the laser
5. Diffraction Grating: You can
beam through several cut-crystal
make a quick diffraction grating by
objects such as wine glasses or
using a feather in the beam.
clear glass vases. Is there a
difference between clear plastic or 6. Polarization: If you have
glass, smooth or multi-faceted? Try polarizer filters, use two. You can
an ice cube, both frosted and wet substitute two pairs of sunglasses.
(clear). Just make sure they are polarized
lenses (most UV sunglasses are).
3. Split the Beam: Shine the laser Place both lenses in the beam and
beam through a flat piece of glass,
rotate one 90 degrees. The lenses
such as a window. Can you find the

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