Does regular window glass block UV radiation as well as a car windshield? UV rays from the sun can cause skin damage. Different types of glass filter out different amounts.
You place a UV meter inside an open wooden box in direct sunlight. Then you cover the box with one glass type at a time:
- a window pane
- a clear car windshield
- a tinted car windshield
The tinted windshield blocks nearly all UV rays. The regular window glass lets most of them through.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that car windscreens with tinted glass are more effective in blocking out UV light.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause sunburns, but different types of glass filter out different amounts. A tinted car windshield blocks nearly all UV rays, while regular window glass lets most of them through. Placing a UV meter inside a box and covering it with each glass type shows how much invisible light passes through.
The full range of energy includes UV rays that can cause skin damage. Different types of glass filter out different amounts of UV. You place a UV meter inside a wooden box in direct sunlight. Then you cover it with one glass type at a time to measure how much UV passes through.
Different materials take in light energy in different amounts. Glass types vary in how much UV radiation they absorb. A tinted car windshield blocks nearly all UV rays, while regular window glass lets most of them through.
Method & Materials
You will place a wooden box in direct sunlight and measure the UV radiation outside and inside the box. Then, you will place different types of glass over the box and measure the UV radiation inside the box again.
You will need a glass window, a car windscreen without any tinting, a tinted car windscreen, a UV meter, and a wooden box with the top open.
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The experiment showed that the windscreen without tinting was able to block off more UV radiation than the glass window. The tinted windscreen was able to block out almost all the UV radiation. This observation stands out as it shows that tinted glass is the most effective in blocking UV light.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting and unique because it shows how we can use glass to protect ourselves from the sun's harmful UV radiation.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include testing glass of different thicknesses, or using a UV lamp and various types of sunglasses to measure how well they block out the UV light.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
