- [Narrator] Our modern day-to-day lives are made of countless interactions with

the objects we encounter.

From the tiniest particles.

To the big structures.

Join us as we explore the inside workings of the world around us.

This is Inside Things.

What is a laser?

Lasers are very powerful concentrated light beams.

Lasers can produce intense energy that can cut through metals, ceramics, plastics,
and cloths at such high accuracy.

Its pinpoint precision also allows it to perform welding procedures such as with
eye surgeries.

But how do lasers work?

Simply put, lasers are effective machines that makes billions of atoms, produce
trillions of photons all at once.

Take for example a red laser.

It's made up of a long crystal made of ruby for its red color.

Then it has a flash tube that's a fluorescent strip light coiled around the ruby
crystal.

Now, the laser tube has a high voltage electric supply that makes the tube flash on
and off.

With each flash, energy is pumped into the crystal in the form of photons or the
light particles.

The atoms in the crystal soak up the photons in a process called absorption.

Here's what happens in absorption.

When an atom absorbs photon energy, its electrons jump from a low energy to a
higher energy level.

This puts the atom in an excited unstable state.

But not for long.

In just milliseconds, the electrons will fall back to its original low energy
level, and then gives off the energy it has absorbed as a new photon of light
radiation.

This process is called spontaneous emission.

The photons that the atoms emit bounce back and forth between ruby crystals
traveling at the speed of light.
Pretty soon, one of these photons will hit an already excited atom.

And when this happens, the excited atom gives off two photons instead of just one.

This is called stimulated emission, where one photon of light produces two, thus
also multiplying the amount of light.

Put together, light amplification or the intensified amount of light has been
caused by the stimulated emission of radiation.

Thus, the name laser.

Which actually stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

There's a mirror at one end of the laser tube that keeps the photons moving about
inside the crystal while a partial mirror at the other end bounces back the
photons, but allows some of it to escape.

And these escaping photons are what forms the concentrated laser light beam that we
see.

How do headphones work?

Headphones are simply smaller more portable versions of speakers.

They are defined as small loudspeakers.

Designed to be held closely to its users ears, so that audio can be listened to
privately.

Whereas loud speakers emit sound into the open air and anyone nearby can hear.

Both the loudspeakers and the headphones operate on the same mechanism by
converting electrical signals to sound waves.

These use an electromagnet and a cone to vibrate the air and create sound waves.

Let's try to study the headphone piece by piece to see how it works.

First, we have the driver assembly.

Inside it is the diaphragm cone, which is what produces sound.

How?

When the diaphragm is vibrated, it pushes on the air that surrounds the headphones.

This produces the sound waves.

Remember that displacements and disruptions in air is what makes sound waves.

Two major things trigger the diaphragm's movement.

First is the magnet then the voice coil, which is usually a threaded copper wire.

So, from the device, music or audio travels through the cable.

From the headphone jack all the way to the headphones.

This is in fact electricity traveling back and forth.

So, this electric current goes directly to the voice coil.

And as a result, creates an electromagnetic field.

Now, the audio signal that has traveled from your device triggers the voice coil to
move up and down.

It produces vibrations within its fixed magnet housing that's attached to the
diaphragm cone.

The alternating current in the voice coil attracts and repels it from the magnet.

In effect, the diaphragm cone is pushed back and forth between 20 to 20,000 times
per second.

Changing the air pressure in front of it and thus creating the sound waves we hear.

Over-the-ear headphones have two types.

Those with open backs behind the drivers and those with closed backs.

Open back headphones allow sound to escape, as well as ambient noise to mix with
the music.

This is done to be able to produce a natural mix of sound.

That's similar to the experience when listening to music via loud speakers.

So, others may hear your music unlike with the closed back headphones.

How does a mirror work?

Mirrors have been around since the beginning of time.

Calm dark bodies of water were the early days' mirrors.

People already started making primitive mirrors back then.

They used polished stones such as obsidian, which is a type of volcanic glass.

Brass, a polished metal, were also used as mirrors.

But these were more expensive.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, European glass makers began coating clear glass
with a thin layer of reflective metal to make mirrors.

It was the beginning of the modern mirrors we know today.

We have mirrors made from clear glass that are coated on one side with a thin film
of metal, such as silver or aluminum.

So, what does it take to make a mirror?

The key is a smooth surface.

Because this allows the light to be reflected with only very little of it absorbed
or scattered.

Rough surfaces don't work because these dissipate light.

But how do mirrors work?

It's when photons or rays of light coming from an object hits the smooth surface of
the mirror and bounces back at the same angle.

Now, you see the reflected photons as a mirror image.

Light is invisible until it bounces off something and hits our eyes.

The law of reflection states that when a ray of light hits a surface, it bounces
back in a certain way.

Most similar to a tennis ball thrown against a wall.

The incoming angle is called the angle of incidence, which is always equal to the
angle leaving the surface or what is called the angle of reflection.

Take for example the sun.

When it's rising or setting by a lake, it gives off light at a very low angle, thus
its reflection bounces off from that same low angle.

So, you can gaze at the light's reflection in the water directly because it's not
as intense for the eyes.

Unlike, say, the sun at noon time which emits light from a very high angle.

The sun's glare reflected in the water will be difficult to look at.

How does a body scanner work?

Commercial airlines today have recently introduced a new security measure, the full
body scanners.

So, instead of long lines and thorough manual security checkups, this new device
poses convenience, less intrusive body exams and more time saved.

It was in 1992 when Dr. Steven W. Smith introduced the first ever full body scanner
which he called the SECURE 1000.

He sold this and associated patents to rapid scan systems.

The company who now manufactures and distributes these devices.

There are only three companies that manufacture commercial x-ray devices for full
body scanners.

The other two are Tek 84 and American Science and Engineering.

But regardless of its manufacture, all scanners are able to do the same thing.

Detect metallic and non-metallic threats.

The only difference is in the technologies used.

There are two types of full body scanners.

One uses x-rays while the other uses millimeter radio waves.

First is the Backscatter full body scanner.

Scanning a passenger with this device only takes about 10 to 20 seconds.

All the person has to do is stand sideways between two scanners.

Then a stream of low energy x-rays passes through a slit and strike the person's
back.

There's another x-ray source in the scanner, so the person's front is scanned too.

These x-rays can also penetrate clothing and can detect anything it conceals.

Plus, it can reveal objects that may be hidden inside the body.

The radiation bounces off human skin as well as weapons, explosives, and the like.

So, when the x-rays don't simply get through, concealed objects are detected.

This is how concealed objects are detected.

The second type is the full body scanner that uses the millimeter wave technology.

The process takes about 20 to 40 seconds.

Here, passengers are asked to go inside a circular transparent booth.

The machine has scanning panels that look like revolving doors, moving across the
front and back of the booth.

Instead of x-rays, this machine uses a special type of microwave.

It makes use of two rotating wave transmitters that can pass through the
passenger's clothing.

But the energy also bounces off the skin, and any object contrasting the skin will
be detected.

And because it's not an x-ray, this machine won't be able to see what's inside the
body.

How does a compass work?

No matter where you are, a compass will always point towards the north pole.

But why and how?

Well, a compass is actually an extremely simple device.

A magnetic compass is made up of one small lightweight magnet that's balanced on an

almost frictionless pivot point.

This magnet is called the needle.

It is often marked N for north.

Now, the interesting part is where the compass interacts with the earth.

Imagine our planet with a giant magnetic bar buried inside it.

Assume that the magnet's south end points to the north pole.

For the end part of the compass to point to the north pole, it is attracted by the
south end of our imaginary magnet bar inside the earth.

Here's the famous opposite-attract rule at work.

That's why it's necessary for a compass to have a lightweight magnet and a
frictionless bearing, because it is supported by the earth's magnetic field to turn
the needle.

Amazing isn't it?

So, the earth's underground magnets can interact with other magnets on its surface,
and the compass magnet always aligns with the earth's magnetic field.

But while the compass is a great tool for navigation, it's not always 100%
accurate.

This is because the earth's magnetic north pole isn't exactly on the earth's
geographic north pole.

Our imaginary magnet bar doesn't align exactly along the earth's rotational axis.

More accurately, the magnetic north lies around 1,000 miles or 1,609.34 kilometers
south of the geographic north, located in Canada.

But it's just skewed slightly off center.

This discrepancy is called declination.

Declination varies from place to place.

Because the earth's magnetic field is not uniform, it dips and undulates.

Complicating things even more is the fact that the magnetic north isn't a
stationary point.

Our planet's magnetic field is ever-changing, thus moving the magnetic north pole
as well.

In fact, over the last century, it has shifted for over 620 miles or 997.8
kilometers towards Siberia.

But through the use of charge of declination and local calibration, compass users
can still compensate for the differences and get their navigations exact.

What is a vitamin?

Vitamins are what help people's bodies function well.

We need to get vitamins from food because the body sometimes doesn't produce enough
of it or none at all.
Some foods have more vitamin content than others.

A vitamin is two things.

First, it is an organic compound or a chemical compound that contains carbon.

Second, a vitamin is a necessary nutrient that an organism or a living thing cannot

produce on its own or can rarely produce it.

So, the organism has to get it in minute amounts from food or vitamin supplements.

There are two types of vitamins.

The fat soluble vitamins and the water-soluble vitamins.

First are the fat soluble vitamins.

Examples of this are vitamins A, D, E and K.

These are stored in the fat tissues of our body and the liver.

Compared to the water soluble ones, fat soluble vitamins are easier to store.

They can stay in the body as reserves for days up to months.

This type of vitamin is processed by the body through the intestinal tract with
much help from fats or lipids.

Meanwhile, the water soluble vitamins are the types that need to be dissolved in
water before it is absorbed by the body.

That's why these vitamins don't stay in the body for long.

These get expelled almost immediately through urine.

These are the type of vitamins that need to get replaced more often.

Examples of water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and all the B-complex vitamins.

Vitamins are essential for the normal growth and development of organisms.

Deficiency in any of the important vitamins may cause diseases or permanent damage.

Skipping meals or dieting may not give you the nutrients you need.

The best way to get enough vitamins is through a healthy diet with a wide range of
foods including whole grain products, dairy, nuts and seeds.

Fruits and vegetables are always a good source.

To date, there are currently 13 recognized vitamins.

How the USB came to be?

The USB has been a common item owned by practically every computer user today.

From students to professionals, each has at least one USB in his or her possession.
Because its use has become commonplace, it can be easy to take the USB for granted,
especially for those who've been introduced to computers in just the last decade.

We're taking a look back at how the USB changed the landscape of connectivity and
information exchange.

So, what's a USB?

The USB or the universal serial bus has a standardized port that's designed to
accommodate many different types of hardware devices.

It is used for connecting peripherals to a computer.

Today, most modern devices for computers, including printers and scanners, digital
cameras, and even mobile devices like ipods, mp3 players, and cell phones has the
USB port incorporated in its design.

Before the USB, users had to struggle with different and incompatible connecting
devices.

Practically, anything that needed to be connected to a computer required a variety

of ports.

There were the parallel and series ports used to plug in devices to computers and
allow data exchange.

Connecting a mouse, a keyboard, printers or scanners, and game consoles would each
need different ports.

There were also expansion cards and custom drivers that were necessary to connect
devices and make them work.

Back then, data transfer via parallel ports lasted at approximately 800 kilobits or
100 kilobytes per second.

Serial ports range from 115 to more than 450 kilobits or 4.38 to 56.25 kilobytes
per second, and some parts could not run simultaneously.

Thankfully in 1994, the first USB technology began.

It was co-invented by AJ Batt of Intel and the USB IF or the USB Implementers Forum
incorporated.

The USB IF is an organization of industry leaders like Intel, Microsoft, Compact,

LSI, Apple and Hewlett-Packard.

This group of companies supports and adopts comprehensive specifications for all
aspects of USB technology.

In the early to mid 2000, the USB began to replace many other things.

The USB is responsible for the death of the floppy disk.

People also hardly used the zip drive.

CDs and DVDs used for data storage soon became a rarity.

The USB was smaller, faster and more versatile, and it could get the job done more
quickly.
There you have it.

Another episode down the drain.

Still, there are countless more things to explore.

Join us next time as we look and know more about the world around us.

See you next time on Inside Things.