How to Make and Use a Simple Laser Pointer

Lena and Petya were avid explorers, and they often spent time in their workshop, carrying out different experiments and creating devices with their own hands. Today, their plan was especially exciting: they decided to build a simple laser pointer. Lena had found an article in an old magazine about how to make a laser pointer out of a regular flashlight, and she immediately suggested trying it with Petya. Petya, who was always fascinated by technology, eagerly agreed. It was not only exciting but also useful—they could use this laser pointer for various games and projects.

“Have you ever thought about how a laser pointer works?” asked Lena, pulling out an old flashlight, plastic tubes, a couple of batteries, and diodes. “We can make a simple device that will work like a real laser pointer, but with basic materials!”

Petya looked at the parts Lena had prepared with interest:

“Wow, this is really simple! But how will this laser work? I always thought lasers were complicated and expensive!”

Lena smiled:

“Actually, lasers are just light that is directed in one direction. We’ll use a regular flashlight and some parts to direct the light to one spot. The light beam will narrow, and we’ll get a bright glowing point, just like a laser.”

The two began gathering the materials. Lena showed Petya how the diode worked and why it was important for creating the laser. They used a regular flashlight, which had to be taken apart to install the new diode that would create the laser beam.

“We’ll need to remove the old bulb and install the diode,” explained Lena as she carefully selected the diode to put into the flashlight. “It will serve the function of creating directed light. That’s the principle used in lasers!”

Petya watched in amazement as Lena carefully placed the diode into the flashlight and connected it to the battery to test whether the system was working. They connected the parts one by one to make sure everything worked correctly, and within a few minutes, Lena happily switched on the flashlight.

“Look! It works like a laser beam!” Petya exclaimed as he directed the glowing beam at the wall.

Lena proudly looked at the result:

“This is how we created a laser pointer! Now we can use it for various projects: games, presentations, or just as a cool gadget.”

Petya was thrilled by how simple it was to make something useful with basic materials. He immediately suggested using their new laser pointer for a game of hide and seek.

“Let’s make a laser maze,” Petya suggested. “We can use this laser to go through the maze without touching the beam!”

Lena happily agreed and decided to add some improvements to the pointer. She suggested using a plastic tube to make the laser pointer’s body more comfortable to hold and easier to direct the light.

When the body was ready, Petya eagerly took the device and began using it for various games. Lena continued experimenting with the laser, improving its brightness and precision.

“We can make it even stronger by adding some mirrors or lenses to focus the light,” Lena suggested. “But for now, this simple laser is a great project to understand how lasers and light beams work.”

Soon, they started using their laser pointer for various activities: directing the beam at walls, making games, and even using it for lessons to show how to point light at a spot.

The two also noticed that their laser could be used for precise measurements. Lena suggested using it to create more complex experiments with the physics of light, and Petya eagerly agreed.

“We can try to focus the laser on different objects,” said Petya. “That will help us understand how light works and how it can be used in different devices!”

When the laser pointer was fully ready, Lena and Petya had not only learned how to create devices but also learned more about the nature of light and lasers. They understood how important light beams are and how useful they can be in various situations, whether for teaching, games, or scientific experiments.