WAEC Physics 2013 Theory — Question 7

Model answer

LASER is a light source that produces a beam of highly coherent and very nearly monochromatic light as a result of cooperative emission from many atoms. The name 'laser' is an acronym for 'Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation'. (a) In communication: used for hologram production, CD/VCD/DVD playing, space communication, data transfer, and fibre-optic cable transmission. (b) In medicine: welding the retina of the eye, boring holes in the skull, cervical cancer surgery, dentistry, cauterizing blood vessels, testing biological samples, and monitoring glucose levels for diabetic patients. (c) In security: guidance systems of missiles, aircraft and satellites; generation of isotopes for nuclear weapons/reactors/enriched uranium production.