Question

Lasers are used to burn and read CDs. Explain why a laser that emits blue light would be capable of burning and reading more information than one that emits infrared.

Short answer

Because blue light has a shorter wavelength than infrared, laser can burn and read more information on a CD of the same size than an infrared laser.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Lasers

The device that is used for light transmission by amplifying the optical signal. The complete process of the laser is known as the stimulated emission of the electromagnetic radiation.

Explanation for the question

CD stores digital information in the form of laser-created pits along a long spiral track, and it is read by detecting the scattered laser light from the pit.

Blue light lasers can burn and read more information than infrared lasers because blue light has a much shorter wavelength than infrared. This means a blue light laser can make more pits and store more data.

The rule of thumb is that the shorter the wavelength, the greater the storage capacity.