Why Are Laptops Taken Out of Bags at the Airport Entrance?

If you have ever traveled by air, you probably know the drill: before passing through the security checkpoint, you have to take your laptop out of your bag and place it in a separate tray for scanning. But why is this necessary? What does your laptop have to do with security? In this post, we will explain the reasons behind this rule and how it helps to prevent potential threats.

The History of the Rule

The rule of taking laptops out of bags at the airport entrance dates back to the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. Before 9/11, airport security was relatively lax and passengers could pass through with bags containing various items, including knives, liquids, and electronic devices. However, after 9/11, airport security regulations changed dramatically to prevent self-made explosives and weapons. Anything that could be considered a threat was confiscated or restricted. Passengers were also required to remove their shoes, belts, outerwear, and any items that could obstruct the X-ray machine’s view, such as laptops, tablets, cameras, and power cords.

The main reason for this rule was to prevent the possibility of hiding explosives or other dangerous items inside laptops or other electronic devices. In fact, in 2006, a plot to blow up transatlantic flights using liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks was foiled by British authorities. The plot involved using laptops or other devices as detonators. Since then, airport security has been even more vigilant and strict about screening laptops and other devices.

The Science of the Rule

The machine that scans your bags and devices at the airport entrance is an X-ray machine. X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate through various materials and create images of their internal structures. The X-ray machine uses a source of X-rays to emit a beam that passes through your bag and hits a detector on the other side. The detector measures how much of the X-ray beam is absorbed or scattered by the objects in your bag. The more dense or thick the object is, the more X-rays it will block or deflect. The detector then sends the data to a computer, which generates an image of your bag and its contents on a screen for the security personnel to inspect.

The main reason you have to take your laptop out of your bag is that its battery and mechanical components are too dense or thick for X-rays to pass through easily, especially with older airport scanning systems. The same applies to power cords and other devices like tablets and cameras. Having a laptop inside a bag can also block the view of other items that could be potentially dangerous. Scanning it separately allows the security personnel to see its internal components clearly on the screen. In certain situations, you might be requested to turn on the laptop to demonstrate that it is functional and not a disguised bomb.

With newer multi-view scanning technology, security personnel can view the bag from multiple angles and discern whether something is being covered up or made to look like something else. For instance, people have tried to mix gun parts with other components in an effort to pass checked baggage screening. However, even with these advanced scanners, taking laptops out of bags still helps to speed up the screening process and reduce the need for manual checks.

The Future of the Rule

The rule of taking laptops out of bags at the airport entrance might change or disappear in the near future, thanks to the development of new scanning technologies and methods. For example, some airports have already implemented computed tomography (CT) scanners, which use X-rays to create 3D images of the bags and their contents. These scanners can rotate around the bags and capture images from different angles, creating a more detailed and accurate representation of the objects inside. These scanners can also detect the chemical composition of the objects, which can help to identify explosives or other threats. With these scanners, passengers do not need to take their laptops or liquids out of their bags, as the security personnel can see everything clearly on the screen.

Another technology that could replace the X-ray machines is terahertz imaging, which uses terahertz waves, a type of electromagnetic radiation that lies between microwaves and infrared light. Terahertz waves can penetrate through various materials and create images of their internal structures, similar to X-rays. However, terahertz waves have some advantages over X-rays, such as being safer for human health, being able to distinguish between different types of materials, and being able to detect concealed objects under clothing. Terahertz imaging could potentially allow passengers to pass through security without removing anything from their bags or bodies, as the security personnel could see everything on the screen.

Conclusion

The rule of taking laptops out of bags at the airport entrance is a security measure that aims to prevent the possibility of hiding explosives or other dangerous items inside laptops or other electronic devices. The rule is based on the principle that X-rays, which are used to scan the bags and devices, cannot penetrate through dense or thick objects easily, and therefore need to be scanned separately. The rule also helps to speed up the screening process and reduce the need for manual checks. However, the rule might change or disappear in the near future, as new scanning technologies and methods, such as CT scanners and terahertz imaging, are being developed and implemented, which can create more detailed and accurate images of the bags and their contents, and detect the chemical composition and type of the objects inside.

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