In a message dated 2008/02/26, gmvoeth@........... writes:

> Is it possible to use a laser pointer and surface reflective mirrors to 
> obtain a mechanical amplification of motion then simply use a solar cell
> as a pickup ?

Hi Geoff,

       You can certainly rig it up OK, but it will be HIDEOUSLY NOISY and 
unless you regulate the intensity of the laser, very temperature sensitive.

> You might locate a light source in a way you can not locate any mechanical 
> thing.
> To get the most response with the least mass getting in the way ?
> Say using the laser pointer as the mass and a power wire as the pendulum 
> wire.
> Or the laser pointer attached to the rod at the top of the pendulum ?
> get the mirrors on each side so you set up a bouncing beam of maybe
> 50 feet ?

       The Laser pointers spread out a lot with distance and have fuzzy, 
speckled noisy edges. A He-Ne laser might work?

> The mirrors are the biggest problem I bet quality surface silvered 
> mirrors are expensive.


       I think that Edmund Scientific stock surface Aluminised mirrors.

       Regards,

       Chris Chapman
   
In a me=
ssage dated 2008/02/26, gmvoeth@........... writes:



Is it possible to use a laser p=
ointer and surface reflective mirrors to 

obtain a mechanical amplification of motion then simply use a solar cell

as a pickup ?




Hi Geoff,



       You can certainly rig it up OK, but it=20=
will be HIDEOUSLY NOISY and unless you regulate the intensity of the laser,=20=
very temperature sensitive.



You might locate a light source=
 in a way you can not locate any mechanical thing.

To get the most response with the least mass getting in the way ?

Say using the laser pointer as the mass and a power wire as the pendulum wir=
e.

Or the laser pointer attached to the rod at the top of the pendulum ?

get the mirrors on each side so you set up a bouncing beam of maybe

50 feet ?




       The Laser pointers spread out a lot wi=
th distance and have fuzzy, speckled noisy edges. A He-Ne laser might work?<=
/FONT>=




The mirrors are the biggest pro=
blem I bet quality surface silvered 

mirrors are expensive.






       I think that Edmund Scientific stock s=
urface Aluminised mirrors.



       Regards,



       Chris Chapman