Question

Which are uses of lasers? Check all that apply.

scanning barcodes
transmitting telephone and Internet signals
examining internal body parts
cutting through metals, ceramics, plastics, and cloth
correcting vision problems

Answer 1

All of them. Briefly:

- Scanning barcodes — laser barcode scanners are common in stores.
- Transmitting telephone and Internet signals — lasers (and LEDs) carry data through fiber-optic networks.
- Examining internal body parts — lasers and laser-based imaging (e.g., endomicroscopy, OCT) and fiber-optic illumination are used in medical diagnostics.
- Cutting through metals, ceramics, plastics, and cloth — industrial laser cutters and cutters/welders do this.
- Correcting vision problems — procedures like LASIK use lasers to reshape the cornea.