UV light damages DNA, and therefore, has the ability to kill bacteria and viruses. It's often used to sanitize workspaces in medical and biological research facilities and to sterilize water and other foods that would be damaged by heat sterilization.

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The UV spectrum is divided into vacuum UV (40-190 nm), far UV (190-220 nm), UVC (220-290 nm), UVB (290-320 nm), and UVA (320-400 nm). The highest energy forms of UV light (Vacuum UV, Far UV, and UVC) are almost completely absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere in the ozone layer. However, UVB and UVA rays do penetrate the ozone layer. UVB is typically the most destructive form of UV radiation because it has enough energy to damage cellular DNA yet not enough to be completely absorbed by the atmosphere. Humans need to be exposed to some UVB rays so that we can produce vitamin D, a critical nutrient for bone production and repair. However, overexposure to UV light can cause sunburn, cataracts, and eventually lead to the development of skin cancer.

UV light is often used to identify the presence of bodily fluids like blood or urine. These substances will be fluorescent in the presence of UV light. This is used in crime scene analysis as well as to check for sanitation of bathrooms and other public spaces where these fluids may be present but invisible to the naked eye.

UV light has both beneficial and harmful effects. Human bodies use it for biological processes, and it is also widely used in medicine and industry. Ultraviolet waves use include:

The sun is our primary natural source of UV radiation. Artificial sources include tanning booths, black lights, germicidal lamps, mercury vapor lamps, halogen lights, high-intensity discharge lamps, fluorescent and incandescent sources, and some types of lasers.

UV light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic waves, including UV waves, are known as self-propagating waves meaning they can travel through space. They consist of electric and magnetic fields that oscillate perpendicular to each other, and perpendicular to the direction of propagation. They move through space at a velocity known as the speed of light. It is equal to {eq}3\times10^8 {/eq} m/s. All forms of electromagnetic radiation move at this speed in a vacuum.

The higher the energy of a wave, the more harmful effects it can have. High energy electromagnetic radiation is known as ionizing radiation and can cause significant damage to biological systems. UV light can have very different effects based on what portion of this spectrum it falls in.

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Ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is all around us even though our eyes can't detect it. Our bodies use it to make vitamin D, but too much exposure can cause painful burns and even cancer. Although UV light can be dangerous, it is also very valuable and is used in many ways. UV light is used to identify biological materials, like blood, at crime scenes and in places where sanitation is important. Because it can kill viruses and bacteria, it is also used to sterilize medical and biological research facilities and to sanitize much of our food and water.

UV light also has many applications in other areas. UV dyes are used in fabric and paper to make them appear brighter, and UV light will also cause biological substances, like blood and urine, to appear fluorescent. This is very useful in forensics. Since UV light damages DNA, it quickly kills DNA and viruses and is commonly used to sterilize food and water, as well as medical and biological research facilities.

UV-C is defined as wavelengths between 100 and 280 nm. The waves have sufficient energy to begin causing biological damage. They are known as ionizing radiation. Far UV and vacuum UV have wavelengths between 10 and 200 nm. These are the most dangerous forms of UV, as they are most likely to cause biological damage.

Ultraviolet waves are used in many applications. Some applications include disinfecting or sterilizing equipment and surfaces in hospitals and curing resins in industry.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that has wavelengths shorter and frequency higher than visible light. Other examples of electromagnetic radiation are radio waves, visible light, microwaves, and X-rays. Sound waves are not a type of electromagnetic wave, as they cannot travel in a vacuum. UV light can be both beneficial and harmful. The UV spectrum is broken down into subcategories based on wavelength, or energy. These subcategories are UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, far UV, and vacuum UV. The Sun emits UV waves in all parts of its spectrum. UV-C, far UV, and vacuum UV can have the most damaging effects, however, they are almost completely absorbed by the atmosphere. The UV light that is most harmful to humans is UV-B.

Long-wavelength UV light is generally called UV-A. The wavelength range of UV-A is between 315 and 400 nm. Of the solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface, approximately 95% is UV-A. The remaining 5% is UV-B, with wavelengths between 280 and 315 nm. It is strongly absorbed by the ozone layer, but some do make it to the Earth's surface.

UV light can also cause damage to the eyes. Looking at the Sun can cause retinal burns and damage to the cornea. UV-C is produced from artificial sources, such as welding, and can cause cataracts and other forms of degeneration in the eye. For this reason, protective eyewear is recommended.

As mentioned, the Sun is the largest source of UV light. It emits UV light at all wavelengths, however, the Earth's atmosphere filters the shorter wavelengths. This means that only UV-A and UV-B make it to the Earth's surface. Artificial sources include tanning beds which emit UV-A and UV-B, arc lights, diodes, and lasers.

UV light is used in various applications, including in medicine and industry. It is also used by the body to produce vitamin D, which is essential to many biological processes. However, it can also cause harm to biological systems, such as DNA damage. This means that UV light is both beneficial and harmful.

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Ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is not visible to the human eye. It has wavelengths shorter and frequency higher than visible light.

The UV spectrum is generally subdivided into three categories that have different environmental and biological effects. These subcategories are different types of UV light which include:

UV light can be used to make fabrics and paper fluoresce (or appear brighter), sterilize food, and water, and identify biological matter for crime scene investigations. UV light is not used in heat lamps, such as those to keep food warm. UV light can also cause damage to biological systems, by disrupting DNA. The overexposure to UV light can result in sunburn, skin cancers, and cataracts.

Where {eq}\lambda {/eq} is the wavelength, {eq}c {/eq} is the speed of light and {eq}f {/eq} is the frequency. The energy of the wave is then given by

As previously mentioned, ultraviolet light is one type of electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic waves are different than waves on a string or waves that you see in water because they don't need anything to travel through; they are waves of pure energy and because of this, they can travel through empty space. They also move really quickly, traveling through space at the speed of light. All visible colors of light, as well as microwaves, X-rays, and radio waves, are also electromagnetic waves. The only difference between these types of electromagnetic waves is their frequency and wavelength. Ultraviolet waves, with wavelengths from 40-400 nanometers (nm), are those that fall between visible light and X rays on the electromagnetic spectrum. Because ultraviolet light has a frequency higher than that of visible light, it carries more energy and has the ability to penetrate our skin. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light can cause sunburns and DNA damage, which can contribute to the development of skin cancer.

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UV light can be broken down into five different types based on their wavelengths, including vacuum UV (40-190 nm), far UV (190-220 nm), UVC (220-290 nm), UVB (290-320 nm), and UVA (320-400 nm). The first three types are absorbed into the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere, while UVB and UVA make their way through. It's actually UVB radiation that leads to DNA damage in humans (in addition to skin cancer, cataracts, and those painful sunburns you've probably had at one point or another). However, UV light is also used by humans to produce vitamin D.

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While UV light can be very beneficial, it can also be harmful in certain situations. A small amount of UV-A can be beneficial to humans because the body uses it to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that is used in a wide variety of biological processes. The deficiency of vitamin D has been linked to poor bone health, mental health, and respiratory problems. However, despite the benefits of UV-A, excess sun exposure can cause sunburn. Furthermore, it can damage collagen and vitamin A in the skin, and lead to the development of skin cancers. This is because UV light causes DNA damage, as shown in the diagram. DNA absorbs the UV light, causing disruptions in the strands.

UV light is a type of radiation that is all around us even though our eyes can't detect it since it has a frequency higher than that of visible light. It's also known as an electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic waves are different than waves on a string or waves that you see in water because they don't need anything to travel through; they are waves of pure energy and because of this, they can travel through empty space. Other electromagnetic waves include radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and X-rays.

UVA is the most commonly encountered type of UV light and also the least harmful. UVA exposure causing tanning of the skin initially, followed by sunburn after prolonged exposure. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs very little UVA radiation, and it is present even on cloudy days. UVA is also needed by humans for synthesis of vitamin D. However, just like UVB, overexposure to UVA has been associated with toughening and wrinkling of the skin, suppression of the immune system, cataract formation, and skin cancer.

The image above shows the wavelengths of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The spectrum is broken into seven broad categories based on wavelength. The wavelength describes the distance between two peaks or two troughs for an oscillation. In other words, the distance over which the wave repeats itself. The wavelength is related to the frequency and the speed of light according to

The Sun is the biggest source of UV light on Earth, but many other sources exist. Some other common ultraviolet light examples are:

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that has shorter wavelengths than visible light. This means that UV light has a higher frequency than visible light. It is categorized as electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 10 and 400 nanometers (nm). Electromagnetic radiation consists of waves of electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space. Some other examples of electromagnetic radiation are radio waves, visible light, and X-rays. The types of electromagnetic radiation are separated by their wavelength or frequency and together make up the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike other types of waves, such as sound waves, electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to travel.

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UV light has shorter wavelengths than visible light, meaning that they have higher energy. The ultraviolet waves definition is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 10 and 400 nm. This broad range is divided into smaller sections that have different effects. Long-wavelength UV can be beneficial, while short-wavelength UV can be harmful.

When UV light shines on certain dyes, they emit a light in the visible spectrum called fluorescence. Many fabrics and papers contain UV sensitive dyes that emit visible light when exposed to UV light. This enhances the color of the dye and causes it to appear brighter. To prevent counterfeiting, most paper currency is printed with a watermark or strip of UV-sensitive dye that can only be seen using a UV black light. This is also commonly used on credit cards, passports, and other sensitive documents.

Many sources create UV light. Some examples include the sun, or any star, which emits light in all parts of the EM spectrum, black lights, and UV sterilization equipment.

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Ultraviolet light can be used to kill bacteria and disinfect surfaces. This means it can be used to sanitize surfaces and equipment.

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