- "Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays."
Short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and certain artificial light sources. It has moderate penetrating ability and can cause damage to skin and eyes.
Electromagnetic spectrum: The range of electromagnetic waves classified by their frequencies and wavelengths.
Properties of UV radiation: Characteristics of ultraviolet radiation, including its wavelength range, energy, and effects on living organisms.
Sources of UV radiation: Sources that emit ultraviolet radiation, including the sun, artificial light sources, and radiation from outer space.
Atmospheric absorption of UV radiation: The degree to which the earth's atmosphere absorbs various wavelengths of UV radiation, and how this affects the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface.
UV radiation and health: The effects of ultraviolet radiation on human health, including sunburn, skin cancer, and eye disorders.
UV radiation and the environment: The effects of ultraviolet radiation on the environment, including the impact on plants, animals, and ecosystems.
UV radiation and materials: The impact of ultraviolet radiation on various materials, including plastics, textiles, and paints.
Monitoring UV radiation: Measures and devices used to track UV radiation levels, including remote sensing satellites and ground-based instruments.
Protection from UV radiation: Strategies to protect against UV radiation, including clothing, shades, and sunscreen.
UV radiation in industry: Application of UV radiation in various industries, such as drug manufacturing, food processing, and water purification.
Gamma rays: High-energy photons emitted by the decay of atomic nuclei. They are commonly produced in nuclear reactions and can be dangerous to living organisms as they possess ionizing properties.
X-rays: High-energy photons that are generated by accelerating charged particles or transitions between atomic energy levels. They can penetrate most materials and are used in medical imaging and radiography.
Ultraviolet radiation: Radiation with higher energy than visible light, but lower energy than X-rays. It is produced by the Sun and can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Visible light: The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. It consists of different colors with different energies.
Infrared radiation: Radiation with lower energy than visible light, but higher energy than microwaves. It is produced by the heat of objects and is commonly used in heat lamps and night vision equipment.
Microwaves: Low-energy radiation that is commonly used in communication technology such as cell phones and Wi-Fi.
Radio waves: The lowest energy form of electromagnetic radiation produced mainly by communication technologies such as radios and televisions.
- "UV radiation is present in sunlight, and constitutes about 10% of the total electromagnetic radiation output from the Sun."
- "It is also produced by electric arcs; Cherenkov radiation; and specialized lights; such as mercury-vapor lamps, tanning lamps, and black lights."
- "Although long-wavelength ultraviolet is not considered an ionizing radiation because its photons lack the energy to ionize atoms..."
- "Many practical applications, including chemical and biological effects, derive from the way that UV radiation can interact with organic molecules."
- "Short-wave ultraviolet light damages DNA and sterilizes surfaces with which it comes into contact."
- "For humans, suntan and sunburn are familiar effects of exposure of the skin to UV light, along with an increased risk of skin cancer."
- "The amount of UV light produced by the Sun means that the Earth would not be able to sustain life on dry land if most of that light were not filtered out by the atmosphere."
- "The UV spectrum, thus, has effects both beneficial and harmful to life."
- "The lower wavelength limit of human vision is conventionally taken as 400 nm..."
- "...ultraviolet rays are invisible to humans, although people can sometimes perceive light at shorter wavelengths than this."
- "Insects, birds, and some mammals can see near-UV (NUV), i.e., slightly shorter wavelengths than what humans can see."
- "These interactions can involve absorption or adjusting energy states in molecules..."
- "Although long-wavelength ultraviolet is not considered an ionizing radiation because its photons lack the energy to ionize atoms, it can cause chemical reactions..."
- "UV radiation is present in sunlight, and constitutes about 10% of the total electromagnetic radiation output from the Sun."
- "It is also produced by electric arcs; Cherenkov radiation; and specialized lights; such as mercury-vapor lamps, tanning lamps, and black lights."
- "For humans, suntan and sunburn are familiar effects of exposure of the skin to UV light, along with an increased risk of skin cancer."
- "Short-wave ultraviolet light damages DNA and sterilizes surfaces with which it comes into contact."
- "More energetic, shorter-wavelength 'extreme' UV below 121 nm ionizes air so strongly that it is absorbed before it reaches the ground."
- "However, ultraviolet light (specifically, UVB) is also responsible for the formation of vitamin D in most land vertebrates, including humans."