Absorbing the Rays

Using UV beads as detectors, the ability of sunglasses to protect the eyes from UV radiation from the Sun is tested.

Grades covered: 1 through 12

Curriculum Topics: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation, UV Protection

Standards

Idea Sheets are cross-referenced to subjects listed in the Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, and California Content Standards.

Common Standards Click to View

Plan & conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light. ||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 1||Physical Science||Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer |||Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 2||Physical Science||Matter and its Interactions|||Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen.||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 4||Physical Science||Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer|||Develop & use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials. [Both light & mechanical waves. ] ||Next Generation Science Standards||Middle School||Physical Science||Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer |||Evaluate the validity & reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.||Next Generation Science Standards||High School||Physical Science||Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

California Standards (Click to View)

4.b. Solar energy reaches Earth through radiation, mostly in the form of visible light.||CA Science||Grade 6||04. Energy in the Earth System||4. Many phenomena on the Earth’s surface are affected by the transfer of energy through radiation and convection currents.|||6.a. Visible light is a small band within a very broad electromagnetic spectrum.||CA Science||Grade 7||06. Physical Science: Physical Principles in Living Systems||6. Physical principles underlie biological structures and functions.|||6.f. Light interacts with matter by transmission (including refraction), absorption, or scattering (including reflection).||CA Science||Grade 7||06. Physical Science: Physical Principles in Living Systems||6. Physical principles underlie biological structures and functions.|||4.e. Radio waves, light and X-rays are different wavelength bands in the spectrum of electromagnetic waves whose speed in vacuum is approximately 3×10⁸ m/s (186,000 miles/second).||Grade 9-12||01. Physics||4. Waves||4. Waves have characteristic properties that do not depend on the type of wave.

Categories include:

Physical Science
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Science

Tags: Matter, Waves, Light

Subjects covered: ["Earth\/Space Science","Physical Science"]

Absorbing the Rays

Standards

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