• Question: If I took a computer apart would I be able to see a laser inside?

    Asked by Kilkenny supporter 101 to Padraic on 10 Feb 2015.
    • Photo: Padraic Morrissey

      Padraic Morrissey answered on 10 Feb 2015:

      Lasers are used in a couple of places inside a computer. The main place would be in the DVD drive, where the laser is used to read information off a disc. The light from the laser has a wavelength (colour) that we can’t see, so if you opened up the computer you wouldn’t really see anything. You can see the actual laser itself though if you open up the CD drive on whatever PC you’re on right now. It should look something like this:

      Lasers are also used in optical mice to interface with computers. If you look at the bottom of the mouse you’re using now it might say that there is a laser in it!

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