Re: Is it possible to measure a laser's intensity? How?

Reply:

>Is it possible to measure a laser's intensity? How?
>

Sure! It is pretty easy. The intensity of light is equal to the power per unit time that it delivers divided by the area measured over. So in order to measure it conveniently for a laser, you need to know two things:

1. The spot size of the laser beam (that is, how much area does the beam cover), and

2. The power per unit time that it delivers.

You can measure number one with a ruler, and for number two, you need some kind of optometer which measures the power in light in Watts. If this is a school project, you probably have an optometer around somewhere.

-Greg Billock