Activity using UV Beads
UV Beads
What makes these beads special?
What can they show us?
What can you do with them?
Design an experiment that will use the UV beads. Develop a testable question that can be
answered by collecting data from an experiment.
Materials available:
UV beads
pieces of material
film canisters/pill bottles
hats
sunscreen
UV Beads
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Explorations:
Purpose: To demonstrate that the sun gives off energy that we can see (visible light) as
well as energy that we cannot see (ultraviolet rays). To observe the effects of ultraviolet
rays, take the beads (covered) out on a sunny day, expose them to the direct sunlight
and have the students observe and record the beads’ reaction. Discuss or hypothesize
what has caused the
beads’ color to change.
What does it teach?
Use the beads to teach kids about the ultraviolet radiation and the care that needs to be
taken to prevent the damage it may cause. Ultraviolet (UV) light is the invisible radiation
that will give you a sunburn and injure your eyes if you're not careful. Sunglasses and
sunscreens absorb UV photons. You can test their protective qualities by using your UV
detecting beads
Note: the beads will change color in reaction to both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can
penetrate glass and deeper into skin. This type of radiation is now getting more
attention as a potential cause of skin cancer despite the fact that it doesn't cause skin to
tan or burn. UVB rays (which causes tanning and burning) doesn't usually penetrate glass
so you don't get tan indoors. The filtering of UVB rays by glass will affect the intensity of
the color change of the beads (another possible experimental variable if desired.
Have students design experiments that will use UV beads. Have them develop testable
questions that they can answer by collecting data from their experiments.
Some ideas might be to test the effectiveness of various sunscreens, sunglasses, or
containers such as pill bottles.
They might also test different types and colors of materials or different hats that they
like to wear outdoors.
Background Information
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What are UV beads? To understand what they are, you first have to understand a
little bit about light energy. Not all light is made up of the same energy. Solar
energy beads provide students an opportunity to uncover an invisible form of light
energy called ultraviolet (UV) light. UV beads are not affected by regular visible
light such as that emitted by incandescent light bulbs within a classroom. UV
beads remain white indoors or when ultraviolet light is blocked. The beads change
color in direct sunlight or in black light (which contains UV light), then change back
to white when removed from UV light. When exposed to even the smallest
amount of UV light, the pale off-white beads turn into colored beads.
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