Answers to Quiz

1. Which skin layer is affected by solar radiation with wavelength of:
   a. 300 nm—epidermis
   b. 385 nm—dermis
   c. 150 nm—none

2. Which type of UV radiation causes sunburn?
   a. UVA
   b. UVB
   c. UVC

3. Which type of UV radiation is associated with tanning?
   a. UVA
   b. UVB
   c. UVC

4. Sunscreen is most effective in blocking which type of radiation?
   a. UVA
   b. UVB
   c. UVC

5. On a cloudy day which types of radiation from the sun are absorbed by the clouds?
   a. most UVA and some UVB
   b. most UVA and all UVB
   c. some UVB and all UVC

6. If you go outdoors, the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself from UVB radiation is:
   a. only go out on cloudy days
   b. wear sunscreen
   c. wear sunglasses to avoid the glare

For more information, at other Web sites...

Electronic Textbook of Dermatology — a comprehensive resource from the Internet Dermatology Society. It is strongly recommended that you read the 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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.

Relevant New Jersey State Science Education Standards

5.4	Sunscreen is a simple technology in the activity.
5.10	The activity shows how light and sunscreen interact as part of the sun–earth interaction.