Names: Parker C,

Olivia E, Cole B, Ruggles B, Max B,

Period: 7
UV Bead Lab
Problem/Background:
Ultraviolet photons contain more energy than visible photons. The
sensitive material in the beads is likely to be composed of atoms or molecules
with certain electrons not able to absorb photons unless the photons have an
energy at least as great as that corresponding to the ultraviolet. Once absorbed,
either the energy is released by the electron emitting light of less energy (a
visible color) than that absorbed (this is called fluorescence), or the structure of
the material is changed by the absorbed photon so the "activated" material
selectively absorbs or scatters visible light of different wavelengths, resulting in
the observed coloration
-Sunscreen has an organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light.
Question: Would the age of the sunscreen affect the amount of UV radiation the
beads receive?
Hypothesis: Our group predicts that if we put new and old sunscreen on the
different petri dishes with beads inside, the new sunscreen will protect the beads
more then the old sunscreen.
Materials:
UV Beads
Sunscreen (old and new)
Petri dishes
Sunshine.
Procedures:
1. Staying inside put 5 beads each in 3 different petri dishes.
2. Label each dish one old, one new and one none
3. Spray one labeled new with the new sunscreen, the one labeled old with the
old sunscreen, and the one none with nothing.
4. Take outside; start timing as soon as you get outside.
5. Wait 2 minutes, recording the color every 30 seconds.

Canby, Parker

Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 8:01:42 AM Pacific Standard Time

70:56:81:af:f3:b9

Data table:
Time
30
seconds
1 minute
1 minute
and 30
seconds
2 minutes

Graph:
Old
Shade 5

New
Shade 4

None
Shade 6

Shade 5
Shade 5

Shade 5
Shade 5

Shade 6
Shade 6

Shade 6

Shade 5

Shade 6

Analyze and Conclude

In this lab, we tested the difference in strength of old and new sunscreen
on UV beads. Our problem was, would the age of sunscreen affect the amount of
UV radiation the beads receive. Our group believes that if we put new and old
sunscreen on the different dishes, the new sunscreen will protect the beads
more, the old sunscreen wont do as well as a job, and with no sunscreen, the
beads will not be protected. Our data showed that both sunscreens protected the
same. Both sunscreens allowed the beads to go all the way to 6 (purple) in the
same amount of time. This did not support our hypothesis because we guessed
that the newer sunscreen would protect the beads more than the old sunscreen.
Something we learned through our research was that sunscreen has an
organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light but in our lab our
sunscreen only absorbed a little bit of the ultraviolet light. It is possible that we
did not apply the sunscreen evenly so maybe there was less in some areas on
the pea tree dish than others, making the data not accurate. I recommend that
you should put on more sunscreen the less. Most people say a little goes a long
way, but actually, by not putting on enough, it gives less protection (SPF) then if
you put on more. In conclusion, our hypothesis was correct, the old sunscreen
did not protect as well as the new sunscreen.
Bibliography: UCSB Science Line Sqtest." UCSB Science Line Sqtest. Web.
22 Oct. 2014.

Canby, Parker

Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 8:01:42 AM Pacific Standard Time

70:56:81:af:f3:b9