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Physics

3.9 - UV Light

5 min

2 of 4 sections match your courseWJEC Foundation Triple

Visible light

Suntans and fluorescenceOutside your course

Security and sterilisingOutside your course

note 1 of 1

Dangers of ultraviolet radiation

UV damages the surface cells of the skin and can cause premature ageing.
Some UV is ionising - it carries enough energy to knock electrons off atoms.
- This can disrupt the DNA in skin cells, causing mutation and leading to skin cancer.
UV can also harm the eyes, causing eye conditions and even blindness.

Reducing the risk

Wear sunscreen with UV filters in strong sunlight.
Limit the time spent in strong sunlight.

The Sun sends purple arrows of UV onto a blue figure covered in pink lumps, labelled UV radiation and cell mutation & destruction, beside a close-up of a half-wrinkled face labelled premature aging.

Exam technique

When explaining how ultraviolet radiation causes cancer, state that it mutates the DNA inside cells. Just saying that it 'damages cells' is usually not enough for the mark.

key terms

TermDefinition

Ionising radiationRadiation that has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms, turning them into ions.

end of notes

Key points to remember

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3.10 - X-Rays & Gamma RaysNext up

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