Introduction / Context:
LASER is one of the most common acronyms in basic physics and general science questions. It appears in everyday life in devices such as barcode scanners, CD and DVD players, laser pointers, industrial cutting machines and in medical treatments. Competitive exams frequently test whether students know the correct full form of LASER, because understanding the expansion also hints at the principle on which a laser operates, namely, the amplification of light through a special emission process in atoms or molecules.
Given Data / Assumptions:
• The question asks specifically for the full form of the acronym ‘‘LASER’’.
• LASER is related to the production of a narrow, coherent beam of light.
• We assume the context is basic physics and general awareness.
Concept / Approach:
The word LASER is formed from the initial letters of the key phrase that describes how lasers work. The central idea is that atoms or molecules in an excited state are stimulated to emit light in phase with incoming photons. This process leads to amplification of light, and the device is essentially a ‘‘light amplifier’’ based on stimulated emission. Therefore, the expansion must mention light, amplification, stimulated emission and radiation in the correct order to describe the physical process accurately.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Write down the acronym: L – A – S – E – R.
2. Match each letter with the correct word from standard physics terminology.
3. ‘‘L’’ stands for ‘‘Light’’ because the device amplifies light.
4. ‘‘A’’ stands for ‘‘Amplification’’, indicating that the intensity of light is increased.
5. ‘‘S’’ stands for ‘‘Stimulated’’, referring to stimulated emission rather than spontaneous emission.
6. ‘‘E’’ stands for ‘‘Emission’’, the process by which photons are released.
7. ‘‘R’’ stands for ‘‘Radiation’’, representing the electromagnetic radiation that forms the laser beam.
8. Putting these words together gives ‘‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’’.
Verification / Alternative check:
If you check any standard physics textbook or reliable reference on optics, the full form of LASER is always given as ‘‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’’. This matches the scientific explanation of how lasers work: an active medium, an energy source to achieve population inversion, and a resonant cavity to stimulate and amplify emission of coherent radiation.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, ‘‘Light Absorption and Scattering for Energy Reflection’’, mentions absorption and scattering, which are opposite to the idea of coherent amplification. Option C, ‘‘Linear Amplification of Sunlight for Emitted Radiance’’, incorrectly focuses on sunlight and ignores stimulated emission. Option D, ‘‘Limited Area Source of Electromagnetic Radiation’’, describes a vague source of radiation and does not capture amplification or stimulated emission, making it scientifically inaccurate as the acronym expansion.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse LASER with general light sources and focus only on words like ‘‘light’’ and ‘‘radiation’’ while forgetting the crucial terms ‘‘Amplification’’ and ‘‘Stimulated Emission’’. Another pitfall is mixing LASER with similar-sounding acronyms or assuming it refers to absorption rather than emission. Students should remember that the defining feature of a laser is coherent, amplified light produced by stimulated emission of radiation, and the acronym directly encodes this concept.
Final Answer:
The full form of LASER is
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Discussion & Comments