• Question: what would you build a laser gun out of

    Asked by dan33 to Cathy, Jaz, Mark, Roma, Rory on 18 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Mark Greaves

      Mark Greaves answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      Hi Dan,

      I’ve absolutely no idea…
      If the other engineers here don’t know I would suggest searching on Google. it’s amazing what you can find on the internet.

      Mark

    • Photo: Jaz Rabadia

      Jaz Rabadia answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      Hi Dan

      I’m not sure either… the only laser guns i have come across are in games at the arcades 🙂

      Jaz

    • Photo: Cathy Fraser

      Cathy Fraser answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      Hi Dan

      That’s me perplexed I’m afraid – I’d use google! Although a personal laser tag set could be cool!

      Cathy

    • Photo: Rory Hadden

      Rory Hadden answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      Hi Dan,
      I also don’t know 🙁

      I have a friend who uses lasers to measure flames to detect how much soot they make (this is so he can make jet engines more efficient). I asked him but even he doesn’t know!

      I expect that the materials would be very exotic and very expensive though.

      Rory

    • Photo: Roma Agrawal

      Roma Agrawal answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Sorry I don’t know either, but if you study physics (like I did) you can ask one of the lecturers!
      Lasers are made by getting electrons in atoms very excited, then letting them calm down. They release some energy as light, and the light is only one wavelength which means only 1 colour.
      So I guess it depends on what colour you want the laser to be.

      Personally I would like a light sabre..

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