what is the difference between light and laser?
2007-01-28 13:53:39 · 5 answers · asked by Amy 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If I remember correctly, a laser is a focused beam of light.
2007-01-28 14:00:52 · answer #1 · answered by Lisa the Pooh 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The thing that REALLY defines laser light is how it's created. Laser light is created through the simultaneous stimulated emission of a group of atoms in a laser cavity.
Practically, the difference between the light you encounter in everyday life and laser light is primarily coherence. (coherence is a VERY complicated topic, but you can think of it as the degree to which light is able to interfere with itself). Laser sources typically emit light that is coherent both spatially (in space), and temporally (in time).
As other posters noted, most lasers typically also emit in a narrow bandwidth (color), and are typically more collimated (think focused into a pencil-like beam) than regular light. However, none of these are necessarily definining characteristics of laser light.
2007-01-28 22:45:50 · answer #2 · answered by tomz17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
light is a general term for electromagnetic radiation (photons) that's visible to the eye... a laser doesn't have to be light, it can be a device which produces any particles or electromagnetic radiation that's in a coherent state but it usually refers to the use of photons.
2007-01-28 22:05:25 · answer #3 · answered by noumuon 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Light is the combination of all wavelengths were a laser is typcally one wavelength of light amplified.
2007-01-28 22:01:49 · answer #4 · answered by Bob 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A LASER IS A FOCUSED LIGHT RAY-A LIGHT IS NOT ALWAYS FOCUSED
2007-01-28 22:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by Diana B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋