Below is the first photo from the new Laser Applications and Fiber Optics set up provided by a grant from the Goose Creek Educational Foundation. In this demonstration students experimented with a modulated laser sending low frequency pulses to a photo detector. The result was the transmission of sound from the base station to the photo detector and the speaker seen at the bottom right side.
This laser communications set up demonstrates several different concepts. Students learned about the fact that lasers and light move in straight lines. Students have often seen lasers but do not have a grasp of the multitude of ways that modern society uses them. Prior to this demonstration students had been introduced to the photoelectric effect. This effect shows that when certain elements are exposed to specific wavelengths of light electrons are ejected. A simulation was used to show the process from PHET. Students then got to experiment with the photo detector and the modulated laser (pictured above). The two students pictured were talking through the microphone to the speaker on the other side of the room. These concepts were combined with their basic understanding of circuits for them to understand the inner workings of this laser communication system.
Students will also learn about fiber optics and standard laser properties in the next few light posts. This simple demonstration helped to illustrate an illusive concept that is something utilized a lot in society but that is generally too expensive for students to directly observe.
Students will also learn about fiber optics and standard laser properties in the next few light posts. This simple demonstration helped to illustrate an illusive concept that is something utilized a lot in society but that is generally too expensive for students to directly observe.