| | Category | PH | P32 | Effect of Ultraviolet Light on Different Fabrics and Their Colors |
| | Abstract | Of all cancers, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type in the |
| | United States. For most cases, ultraviolet radiation is the culprit. Protection |
| | against this form of electromagnetic radiation from the sun is essential for |
| | avoiding skin cancer and maintaining healthy skin. This project deals with |
| | determining which fabric (polyester, wool, or cotton) and color (black, |
| | green, or white) is most effective in disrupting the ultraviolet rays from |
| | coming in contact with the skin. A black, green, and white sample of each |
| | of the three fabrics was needed. The hypothesis was that black would |
| | dominate amongst the colors in terms of absorption of light, and polyester |
| | would be most protective, then wool, and cotton last. The hypothesis was |
| | constructed based on the investigation of the strength of the bonds within |
| | the molecular structure of the fabrics. A UVB probe was used to measure |
| | the amount of ultraviolet light that the fabrics would absorb in the |
| | experiment. Ultraviolet B is the most dangerous form of UV that humans, or |
| | other organisms, are exposed to, and it is the main cause of sun burn and |
| | cataracts. Using UVB as a standard for ultraviolet in this experiment is |
| | beneficial towards providing information regarding protection on a harsher |
| | level. An ultraviolet light (UVB) was then attached inside a black box |
| | which was impenetrable to light. Next, the light emitted ultraviolet to one of |
| | the nine samples of fabric at the bottom of the box. The probe, placed |
| | below the box, would measure the amount of ultraviolet absorbed by the |
| | specific fabric. The results would determine the fabric that would absorb |
| | the most ultraviolet, therefore blocking it from the skin and providing |
| | protection for Americans and others around the world under the sun. |
| | Bibliography |