Ultraviolet - Revision history

RichardWSmith: /* Subtypes (Colors) of Ultraviolet (UV) */ Added another term.

2025-08-08T00:52:46Z

Subtypes (Colors) of Ultraviolet (UV): Added another term.

RichardWSmith: Added link.

2024-09-11T10:28:13Z

Added link.

RichardWSmith: /* UV Light on Mars */ Fixed minor error.

2024-09-11T10:25:29Z

UV Light on Mars: Fixed minor error.

Michel Lamontagne: /* Material Science / Industrial Uses */

2022-09-30T19:04:40Z

Material Science / Industrial Uses

Michel Lamontagne: /* UV Light Effects On Life */

2022-09-30T19:02:15Z

UV Light Effects On Life

Michel Lamontagne: /* UV Light on Mars */

2022-09-30T19:01:06Z

UV Light on Mars

Michel Lamontagne at 18:59, 30 September 2022

2022-09-30T18:59:14Z

RichardWSmith: Created page.

2021-05-21T22:32:08Z

Created page.

New page

Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from 10 to 400 nm. This light is invisible to human eyes. It has shorter wavelengths than visible light, but longer than X-rays. It is energetic enough to damage human skin, sterilize surfaces from bacteria, and break molecular bonds. About 10% of the light given off by the sun is in the Ultraviolet frequencies.

== Subtypes (Colors) of Ultraviolet (UV) ==
Ultraviolet A: is from 315 to 400 nm. Most of this gets thru the [[Ozone]] layer. "Soft UV".

Ultraviolet B: is from 280 to 315 nm. Most of this IS absorbed by the Ozone layer. "Medium UV".

Ultraviolet C: is from 100 to 280 nm. Completely absorbed by the Ozone layer. "Hard UV".

Extreme UV shades into the lower energy X-rays. This ranges from 10 to 120 nm. This light can break molecular bonds.

== UV Light on Mars ==
Mars gets about 50% of the light from the Sun, so while the UV light is just as powerful per photon, there is half as much light. This powerful light will sterilize bacteria on the surface of the planet. If humans could somehow give Mars an oxygen atmosphere, then an [[Ozone]] Layer would build up on Mars which would protect the surface from this radiation.

A concern is that UV light will break up [[Super Greenhouse Gases]] which people have suggested could warm the planet.

== UV Light Effects On Life ==
Most humans can not see wavelengths shorter than 400 nm. Some insects, birds, and fish can see UV light down to ~300 nm.

UV light will damage skin. Life has either created barriers (such as fur) to protect against it, or evolved to have melanin in their shells or skin to prevent it from penetrating deeply into the body.

Long exposure to UV light can harm the eyes.

UV-B light helps generate vitamin D in human skin, so people living inside for long period of times may wish to have UV lights in the bathroom to help them get enough of these frequencies.

Bright lights and UV light promotes the creation of Serotonin (a brain chemical), which provides sensations of well-being, serenity, and happiness.

== Material Science / Industrial Uses ==
UV light can check for fires.

UV light can be used in photolithography where a mask is used to shadow some areas from the light, while others are exposed. Chemical reactions happen to the exposed areas

UV light can cure certain polymers. Some 'glues' can harden under UV light.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 *Ultraviolet A: is from 315 to 400 nm.  Most of this gets thru the [[Ozone]] layer.  "Soft UV".
 *Ultraviolet B: is from 280 to 315 nm.  Most of this IS absorbed by the Ozone layer.  "Medium UV".
-*Ultraviolet C: is from 100 to 280 nm.  Completely absorbed by the Ozone layer.  "Hard UV".
+*Ultraviolet C: is from 100 to 280 nm.  Completely absorbed by the Ozone layer.  "Hard UV" or "Extreme UV".
 *Extreme UV shades into the lower energy X-rays.  This ranges from 10 to 120 nm.  This light can break molecular bonds.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from 10 to 400 nm.  This light is invisible to human eyes.  It has shorter wavelengths than visible light, but longer than X-rays.  It is energetic enough to damage human skin, sterilize surfaces from bacteria, and break molecular bonds.  About 10% of the light given off by the sun is in the Ultraviolet frequencies.
+Ultraviolet (UV) light is [[Electromagnetic radiation]] with wavelengths from 10 to 400 nm.  This light is invisible to human eyes.  It has shorter wavelengths than visible light, but longer than X-rays.  It is energetic enough to damage human skin, sterilize surfaces from bacteria, and break molecular bonds.  About 10% of the light given off by the sun is in the Ultraviolet frequencies.
 == Subtypes (Colors) of Ultraviolet (UV) ==
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 == UV Light on Mars ==
-*Mars gets 43% of the light from the Sun, so while the UV light is just as powerful per photon, there is half as much light. However, as the Martian atmosphere is very thin, more UV light reaches the Martian surface than Earth's surface. This powerful light will sterilize bacteria on the surface of the planet.  If humans could somehow give Mars an oxygen atmosphere, then an [[Ozone]] Layer would build up on Mars which would protect the surface from this radiation.
+*Mars gets 43% of the light from the Sun, so while the UV light is just as powerful per photon, there is about half as much light. However, as the Martian atmosphere is very thin, more UV light reaches the Martian surface than Earth's surface. This powerful light will sterilize bacteria on the surface of the planet.  If humans could somehow give Mars an oxygen atmosphere, then an [[Ozone]] Layer would build up on Mars which would protect the surface from this radiation.
 *A concern is that UV light will break up [[Super Greenhouse Gases]] which people have suggested could warm the planet.
 == UV Light Effects On Life ==
 *Most humans can not see wavelengths shorter than 400 nm.  Some insects, birds, and fish can see UV light down to ~300 nm.
-*UV light will damage skin.  Life has either created barriers (such as fur) to protect against it, or evolved to have melanin in their shells or skin to prevent it from penetrating deeply into the body.
+*UV light will damage skin.  Life has either created barriers (such as fur) to protect against it, or evolved to have the melanin protean in their shells or skin to prevent it from penetrating deeply into the body.
 *Long exposure to UV light can harm the eyes.
 *UV-B light helps generate vitamin D in human skin, so people living inside for long period of times may wish to have UV lights to help them get enough of these frequencies.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 == UV Light on Mars ==
-*Mars gets about 50% of the light from the Sun, so while the UV light is just as powerful per photon, there is half as much light. However, as the Martian atmosphere is very thin, more UV light reaches the Martian surface than Earth's surface. This powerful light will sterilize bacteria on the surface of the planet.  If humans could somehow give Mars an oxygen atmosphere, then an [[Ozone]] Layer would build up on Mars which would protect the surface from this radiation.
+*Mars gets 43% of the light from the Sun, so while the UV light is just as powerful per photon, there is half as much light. However, as the Martian atmosphere is very thin, more UV light reaches the Martian surface than Earth's surface. This powerful light will sterilize bacteria on the surface of the planet.  If humans could somehow give Mars an oxygen atmosphere, then an [[Ozone]] Layer would build up on Mars which would protect the surface from this radiation.
 *A concern is that UV light will break up [[Super Greenhouse Gases]] which people have suggested could warm the planet.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Material Science / Industrial Uses ==
-*UV light can check for fires.
+*UV light can be used to check for fires.
 *UV light can be used in photolithography where a mask is used to shadow some areas from the light, while others are exposed.  Chemical reactions happen to the exposed areas
-*UV light can cure certain polymers.  Some 'glues' can harden under UV light.
+*UV light can cure certain polymers, as is used currently in dentistry.  Some 'glues' can harden under UV light.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 *UV light will damage skin.  Life has either created barriers (such as fur) to protect against it, or evolved to have melanin in their shells or skin to prevent it from penetrating deeply into the body.
 *Long exposure to UV light can harm the eyes.
-*UV-B light helps generate vitamin D in human skin, so people living inside for long period of times may wish to have UV lights in the bathroom to help them get enough of these frequencies.
+*UV-B light helps generate vitamin D in human skin, so people living inside for long period of times may wish to have UV lights to help them get enough of these frequencies.
 *Bright lights and UV light promotes the creation of Serotonin (a brain chemical), which provides sensations of well-being, serenity, and happiness.
 == Material Science / Industrial Uses ==