ULTRAVIOLET

RADIATION
Presented by: Group 3
of 10-Leadership
What is UV
radiation?
Ultraviolet Radiations or UV Radiations
were discovered by Johann Ritter back in

Jens Martensson
February 22, 1801. It is a form of EM
radiation with wavelength shorter than that
of visible light, but longer than x-rays. It
can damage or kill cells.
Any electromagnetic radiation(light)that has
a wavelength shorter than 450 nm may
cause trouble.

2
UV RAYS
Ultraviolet rays are present in
sunlight, and constitutes about 10%
of the total electromagnetic output
from the sun. Therefore, humans that

Jens Martensson
live in places with more ultraviolet
light have adapted by getting darker
skins. Pigments absorb the ultraviolet
radiation, so it does not get through
the skin to kill or injure cells inside.
Injury to the skin by ultraviolet is
called "sunburn."

3
DISCOVERY
In 1801, Johann Ritter conducted an
experiment to investigate the existence
of energy beyond the violet end of the

Jens Martensson
visible spectrum. Knowing that
photographic paper would turn black
more rapidly in blue light than in red
light, he exposed the paper to light
beyond violet. Sure enough, the paper
turned black, proving the existence of
ultraviolet light.

4
UVA, UVB, UVC

• Just as visible light consists of

different colours that become apparent

Jens Martensson
in a rainbow, the UV radiation
spectrum is divided into three regions
called UVA, UVB and UVC. As
sunlight passes through the
atmosphere, all UVC and most UVB is
absorbed by ozone, water vapour,
oxygen and carbon dioxide. UVA is
not filtered as significantly by the
atmosphere.
5
UVA

Jens Martensson
The most common UV ray from
the sun and most dangerous, UVA
can penetrate the skin down to the
middle layer.

6
UVB

Jens Martensson
A shorter wavelength than UVA
that can only penetrate the skin to
the top layer. Some UVB rays are
stopped by the earth’s ozone layer;
it can also be stopped by treated
glass.
7
UVC

Jens Martensson
All UVC rays from the sun are
stopped by the ozone layer;
therefore, the only exposure
humans get to UVC is from
artificial sources such as lasers or
welding torches.