Answers to Quiz

This animated simulation is intended to illustrate the basic relationship between ultraviolet radiation from the sun and human skin. The four bodies of knowledge needed to understand the processes illustrated here are:

• Ultraviolet Radiation
• Skin Structure
• Skin Cancer
• Sunscreens

Relevant National Science Education Standards

Physical Science — Energy from the sun interacts with matter, specifically sunscreen.

Science and Technology — Sunscreen as a technologic device is central to the activity.

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives — Personal use of sunscreen is an important health measure.

Electronic Textbook of Dermatology — a comprehensive resource from the Internet Dermatology Society. It is strongly recommended that you read thethe section "Sun Damage" and its subsections "Sunlight Composition," "Harmful Effects of UV Radiation," "Sunburn and Acute Damage," "Sunscreens," and "Sunscreen Protection From UV." A good deal of background information can be found in the section "Anatomy."

How Sunburns and Sun Tans Work — from Marshall Brain's HowStuffWorks.

Sunlight, Ultraviolet Radiation, and the Skin — from the National Institutes of Health.

Trying to Look SUNsational? Complexity Persists in Using Sunscreens — from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

USDA UV-B Monitoring Program — contains information on UV radiation, especially UVB, from the United States Department of Agriculture.

This activity was created by Don McKinney and Mark Michalovic.