Ultraviolet (uv)

means "beyond violet" (from Latin ultra, "beyond"),

Electromagnetic radiation
Wavelength- 400nm to 10nm
Present in sunlight, or
Can be produce by electric arcs and specialized lights

such as mercury-vapor lamps, tanning lamps, and

black lights.

SOURCE OF
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

SUN
The sun is a major source of ultraviolet rays. Though the sun emits all of the
different kinds of electromagnetic radiation, 99% of its rays are in the form of
visible light, ultraviolet rays, and infrared rays (also known as heat). Man-made
lamps can also emit UV radiation, and are often used for experimental purposes.

UV from the sun is highest in spring and summer from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
.UV guidelines can be exceeded in 15 minutes on a clear summer day.
Clouds may do little to reduce UV levels.
The Sun is a source of the full spectrum of ultraviolet radiation, which is
commonly subdivided into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C.

ELECTRIC WELDING ARCS

Welding arcs can exceed the UV guidelines in seconds within
a few meters of the arc.
Besides workers, bystanders and passers-by are often
overexposed to UV from the arcs

UV CURING LAMPS
Lamps are usually inside cabinets, but substantial UV
radiation can escape through openings.
UV curingis a speedcuringprocess in which high
intensityultraviolet lightis used to create a
photochemicalreaction that instantly cures inks,
adhesives and coatings. UV Curing is adaptable to
printing, coating, decorating,stereolithographyand
assembling of a variety of products and materials
owing to some of its key attributes, it is: a low
temperature process, a high speed process, and a
solventless processcure is bypolymerizationrather
than byevaporation

BLACK LIGHTS
Low-power UV-A lamps used in non-destructive testing (NDT), insect

control, and entertainment. Ablack light,alsoreferredtoasaUV-A

light,Wood's light,orsimplyultraviolet light,isalampthat
emitslongwave(UV-A)ultravioletlightandnotmuchvisible
light.Thelamphasavioletfiltermaterial,eitheronthebulborina
separateglassfilterinthelamphousing,whichblocksmostvisible
lightandallowsthroughUV,[3]sothelamphasadimvioletglow
whenoperating.[

GERMICIDAL LAMPS
UV-B- and UV-C-emitting lamps used to sterilize work areas in

hospitals and laboratories.germicidal lampisaspecialtypeof

lampwhichproducesultravioletlight(UVC).Thisshort-wave
ultravioletlightdisruptsDNAbasepairingcausingthyminethyminedimersleadingtodeathofbacteriaonexposedsurfaces.
Itcanalsobeusedtoproduceozoneforwaterdisinfection.

Characteristics of Ultraviolet Radiation

UV rays are just beyond visible light at shorter wavelengths than the last
visible ray,
which is violet.
Ultraviolet rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum that can reach a
high enough level on earth to be harmful to plants, animals and humans.
The amount of UV radiation reaching the earth varies depending on the
directness of the suns rays, time of day, time of year, the locations latitude,
cloud cover, and the amount of dust, haze and pollution in the air.

THERE ARE OTHER SCHEMES FOR DIVIDING UV INTO

DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, ANOTHER COMMON ONE IS:
NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET (NUV - 300-400 NM),
MIDDLE ULTRAVIOLET (MUV - 200-300 NM),
FAR ULTRAVIOLET (FUV 122-200 NM), AND
EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET (EUV- 121-10 NM).

Name

Abbreviatio
n

Wavelength (nm
Photon energy (eV, aJ)
)

Notes / alternative names

Ultraviolet A

UVA

315400

3.103.94, 0.4970.631

Long wave, black light, not absorbed by

the ozone layer

Ultraviolet B

UVB

280315

3.944.43, 0.6310.710

Medium wave, mostly absorbed by the

ozone layer

Ultraviolet C

UVC

100280

4.4312.4, 0.7101.987

Short wave, germicidal, completely

absorbed by the ozone layer and
atmosphere

Near ultraviolet

NUV

300400

3.104.13, 0.4970.662

Visible to birds, insects and fish

Middle ultraviolet

MUV

200300

4.136.20, 0.6620.993

Far ultraviolet

FUV

122200

6.2012.4, 0.9931.987

121122

Spectral line at 121.6 nm, 10.20 eV.

10.1610.25, 1.6281.642 Ionizing radiation at shorter
wavelengths

Vacuum ultraviolet VUV

10200

6.2012.4, 0.9931.987

Strongly absorbed by atmospheric

oxygen, though 150200 nm
wavelengths can propagate through
nitrogen

Extreme ultraviolet EUV

10121

12.4124, 1.9919.87

Entirely ionizing radiation by some

definitions; completely absorbed by the
atmosphere

Hydrogen LymanH Lyman-

alpha

Most ultraviolet is classified as non-ionizing radiation.

(radiation that does not cause atmospheric ionization; electrically
neutral radiation)
Higher energies of the ultraviolet spectrum from wavelengths about 10
nm to 120 nm ('extreme' ultraviolet) are ionizing, but this type of
ultraviolet in sunlight is blocked by normal molecular oxygen (O 2) in
air, and does not reach the ground.
In addition to short wave UV blocked by oxygen, a great deal
(>97%) of mid-range ultraviolet (almost all UV above 280 nm and
most up to 315 nm) is blocked by the ozone layer. After atmospheric
filtering, only about 3% of the total energy of sunlight at the zenith is
ultraviolet, and this fraction decreases at other sun angles.

Scientists studying astronomical objects commonly refer to different

subdivisions of ultraviolet radiation: near ultraviolet (NUV), middle
ultraviolet (MUV), far ultraviolet (FUV), and extreme ultraviolet (EUV).
NASA's SDO spacecraft captured the image below in multiple
wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. The false-color
composite reveals different gas temperatures. Reds are relatively cool
(about 60,000 Celsius) while blues and greens are hotter (greater than
one million Celsius).

AURORAE
caused by high-energy waves that travel along a planet's magnetic poles, where
they excite atmospheric gases and cause them to glow. Photons in this highenergy radiation bump into atoms of gases in the atmosphere causing electrons
in the atoms to excite, or move to the atom's upper shells. When the electrons
move back down to a lower shell, the energy is released as light, and the atom
returns to a relaxed state. The color of this light can reveal what type of atom
was excited. Green light indicates oxygen at lower altitudes. Red light can be
from oxygen molecules at a higher altitude or from nitrogen. On Earth, aurorae
around the north pole are called the Northern Lights.

APPLICATION OF
ULTRAVIOLET

ASTRONOMY
In ultraviolet astronomy, ultraviolet can be used to figure out the

composition and temperature of stars. Since the atmosphere absorbs

UV, this kind of astronomy is usually done from space telescopes.

An Ultraviolet image of
the Sun

Ultraviolet Image of M81

Galaxy

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographic film responds to ultraviolet radiation but the

glass lenses of cameras usually block radiation shorter than

350 nm. It is useful for medical, scientific, and forensic
investigations.

A portrait taken using only UV light

between the wavelengths of 335 and 365
nanometers.

CHEMISTRY
UV/VIS spectroscopy is widely used as a technique

in chemistry to analyze chemical structure.

A collection of mineral samples

brilliantly fluorescing at various
wavelengths as seen while being
irradiated by UV light.

Sterelization & Disinfection

Ultraviolet lamps are used to sterilize workspaces

and tools used in biology laboratories and medical

facilities. UV-C germicidal lamps to reduce mould
and bacterial contamination during food
production.

Fluorescence and lighting

A number of substances are able to absorb the

energy in UV light and immediately convert it into

visible light. This effect is called fluorescence.

Identification of counterfeit notes

It can be used to confirm the validity of banknotes

and identity cards. Messages or symbols can be

written in fluorescent dye that can be viewed under
a UV light.

UV Lights are Used to

Combat Counterfeiting

Other applications of Ultraviolet

UV lamps for fluorescent inspection
UV products for hygiene and infection control
UV lamps for curing of materials
UV blacklight for scenic artwork and special

effects
UV lamps for exposure and treatment
UV ray stimulates the production of vitamin D.