Names James, Erin and Stella Per 7

UV Bead Lab
Problem/Background:
How much UV radiation we get from the sun depends on the intensity of the
sun. The intensity of the sun depends on the time of the day. The sunlight exposure
is highest during the summer between 10:00 am and 4:00p.m. Sunrise and sunset is
when people get less exposure of U.V radiation. The weather also depends on the
amount of U.V radiation we get. If one day is raining and the other day has clear
skies humans are exposed to more sunlight on the hot day. The amount of U.V
radiation we get depends on the specific day, whether it is effected by the weather,
time or exposure of the day.
The more intense the sun is, the more you are exposed to UV radiation.
Overexposure of UV radiation could possibly result in skin cancer and faster skin
aging. The benefits of UV radiation are that it produces vitamin D and it is used to
treat diseases such as rickets and jaundice. When youre having fun outdoors, its
easy to forget how important it is to protect yourself from the sun. The suns UV rays
can damage unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes. Yet it can take as long as 12
hours for skin to show the full effect of sun exposure.
The government recommends to Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen
to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or
immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. It is also important to make sure
to wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and clothing with more coverage to protect
yourself from UV radiation. Overall you must always make sure to be careful of how
much U.V radiation your skin gets exposed too.

Question: Does the intensity of U.V. radiation vary with different locations?
Hypothesis: I predict that the intensity of U.V. radiation will vary with different
locations.
Materials: UV beads
Procedures:

1. The variable we are controlling (independent variable) is the amount of light

and having multiple beads.
2. Take the beads to direct sunlight on a petri dish.
3. Time for 30 seconds and record what scale number the color of the beads
match to.
4. Let the beads return to its normal color. (white/pale)
5. Place the beads under a tree where there is little sunlight. To avoid receiving
light from other directions, make sure to have someone block the light (with
their body, book etc.).
6. Time for 30 seconds and record what scale number the color of the beads
and match what scale number the color of the beads match to on the U.V
bead color rating chart.

McCarthy, Erin

Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 8:04:51 PM Pacific Standard Time

70:56:81:af:da:8f

7. Let the beads return to its normal color again.

8. Place the beads in a room on a petri dish by the window where sunlight is
going through.
9. Time for 30 seconds and record what scale number the color of the beads
and match what scale number the color of the beads match to on the U.V
bead color rating chart .
10. Place the beads in shade where there is no light on a petri dish
11. Time for 30 seconds and record what scale number the color of the beads
match to.
Data:
Time exposed 30 seconds
(8 highest 0 lowest)
Location

Direct sunlight

Under a tree

By the window

Shade

Scale number

1.5

Instensity of U.V radiation (scale #)

The Dependence of U.V Radation

Scale Number on the Location
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Intesity if U.V
radiation(scale #)
Direct Shade Under By the
sunlight
tree window
Locations

Analyze and Conclude

In this lab we studied the importance of U.V and how U.V light can be
stronger is one area and weaker in another. U.V. stands for ultraviolet. U.V
radiation is rays that come from the sun. They are invisible and we cannot see
them. The ozone layer protects the earth from most U.V. radiation. The more
intense the sun is, the more you are exposed to UV radiation. The benefits of UV
radiation are that it produces vitamin D.
In the beginning of this lab I hypothesized that the intensity of U.V
radiation would vary with different locations. I hypothesize was valid because on
our graph you can see that the intensity of U.V light in the sun was rated a 6 and
by the window it was only a 1.5. This supports our hypothesize because it proves

McCarthy, Erin

Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 8:04:51 PM Pacific Standard Time

70:56:81:af:da:8f

that if there is more or less sunlight then the U.V radiation is going to be stronger
or weaker.
We found out that the amount of U.V radiation that was exposed in the
shade was only 2 times greater than the beads we put directly in the sun.
Occurring to PhD, Peter G People can spend long hours in the shade while still
receiving quite a lot of sun exposure and risking skin damage. This proves that
although there is less U.V radiation in the shade you still need to be careful
because U.V radiation is so powerful.
A limitation we found is that the suns UV rays can damage unprotected skin
in as little as 15 minutes yet it can take as long as 12 hours for skin to show the full
effect of sun exposure. Since we used beads this experiment could not be very
accurate because of the limited time we had.
To protect yourself from the sun apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen
to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or
immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. It is also important to make sure
to wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and clothing with more coverage to protect
yourself from UV radiation. Overall U.V radiation can affect you in almost any
weather condition, therefore it is important to protect yourself.
Bibliography:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2692214/
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/uvradiation.html
http://www.sunsafetyalliance.org/uv_rays.html
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/uv-reactive-bead

McCarthy, Erin

Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 8:04:51 PM Pacific Standard Time

70:56:81:af:da:8f