Chapter 10: Problem 38

Distinguish laser light from the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb in as many ways as you can.

Short Answer

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Answer: The main differences between laser light and light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb are their brightness, color, coherence, directionality, monochromaticity, and collimation. Laser light is brighter, monochromatic (single color), coherent, highly directional, and collimated. In contrast, lightbulb light has a broad spectrum of colors, is incoherent, spreads in all directions, and is less focused or collimated.

Step by step solution

1. Brightness

Laser light is usually much brighter than the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb. This is because laser light is concentrated into a small area, resulting in high intensity.

2. Color

Laser light is monochromatic, which means it has a single specific color or wavelength. On the other hand, the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb is a mixture of different wavelengths, producing a broad spectrum of colors (white light).

3. Coherence

Laser light is coherent. This means that the light waves are in phase, meaning their peaks and troughs align perfectly with each other. In contrast, the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb is incoherent, with the light waves being out of phase and containing various wavelengths.

4. Directionality

Laser light is highly directional, meaning it travels in a straight line and can be focused into a tight beam. On the other hand, the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb spreads out in all directions.

5. Monochromaticity

As mentioned in the color comparison, laser light is monochromatic, with a single specific wavelength. This results in a pure color, which can be useful in various applications such as spectroscopy and telecommunications. On the other hand, ordinary lightbulbs emit light with a broad spectrum of wavelengths, resulting in white light or other colors depending on the type of bulb used.

6. Collimation

Laser light is highly collimated, which means the light rays are parallel to each other. This allows the laser beam to maintain its shape and intensity over long distances. On the other hand, the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb diverges or spreads out as it travels, making it less focused and less useful for precise applications. In conclusion, the key differences between laser light and the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb are in their brightness, color, coherence, directionality, monochromaticity, and collimation. These properties make laser light unique and suitable for a variety of specialized applications, whereas ordinary lightbulbs are mostly used for general illumination purposes.

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Distinguish laser light from the light emitted by an ordinary lightbulb in as many ways as you can.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

1. Brightness

2. Color

3. Coherence

4. Directionality

5. Monochromaticity

6. Collimation

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