What Are the Different Types of Ultraviolet Light?
Ultraviolet light, which is also called UV light, is invisible to the naked eye. That's because its wavelength is too short for our eyes to perceive, unlike visible light. On the spectrum, the area of UV light has three regions. In order, they are near ultraviolet light, far ultraviolet light and extreme ultraviolet light. Another way to type UV light is to specify the areas of the spectrum that are UV-A, UV-B and UV-C light.
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UV Light and Electromagnetic Radiation
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Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation just as visible light is. It travels through space in waves that possess regular crests and troughs. Wavelength is the distance between two identical spots on the wave, say the distance between the top of one wave and the next. Electromagnetic radiation can be arranged in a spectrum according to wavelength as well as frequency. Frequency is the number of times a motion occurs over a set period of time. It is often measured in hertz (Hz), which is cycles per second. Electromagnetic waves are produced by oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength than visible light, which is why our eyes don't see it. It also has a higher frequency than visible light. In the electromagnetic spectrum, UV light abuts visible light. In fact, ultraviolet light is so named because the shorter wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) light is just beyond that of violet light. Moving from longest wavelengths to shortest, the order on the spectrum is radio waves, then microwaves, then infrared radiation--which you feel when it is given off by hot objects--visible light, UV rays, X-rays, then gamma rays.
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Observing UV Light Types
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Though we can't see UV light, other Earth creatures such as the bumblebee can. So can some telescopes, which help us see things in space differently. Stars, for instance, not only shine with light visible to our eyes, but also with UV light. Hot bodies like new stars give off lots of UV light. The Hubble Space Telescope can look into space in near ultraviolet light. Space as seen in extreme UV is being observed by NASA's Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer. Both far and near UV light is being observed by the International Ultraviolet Explorer.
Other UV Types
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Ultraviolet light can also be divided into ultraviolet A, B and C. UV-A light is also known as black wave or long wave. UV-B light is medium wave. These two lights cause skin damage: UV-A causes aging effects and cancer; UV-B causes sunburn and cancer as well. UV-C light is short wave or germicidal radiation. It is produced by the Sun and deflected by the Earth's atmosphere. The UV index is a measure of how much ultraviolet radiation is making it through the atmosphere on a particular day.
Benefits of UV Light
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Though ultraviolet light can be a hazard, it also has its benefits. UV-B exposure helps the body make vitamin D, which plays a role in preventing cancer and aids in calcium absorption. Some skin conditions are treatable with UV-A radiation. UV-C can kill bacteria and viruses and is used as a sterilization tool in hospital settings. Industry uses UV light to sterilize, as well, with circuit boards, for instance.
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