UV Light: Patterns in Nature - Research Paper Example

Patterns in Nature Ultraviolet light commonly referred to as UV light is a form of an electromagnetic radiation not visible to the human eye because of a shorter wavelength as compared to the light visible to humans. This light is comparatively stronger carrying more energy than normal light and can rupture the chemical bond in atoms or molecules and hence damaging the initial chemistry of the substance that has been exposed to it. A feature of UV light is that it causes fluorescence because of which certain materials radiate visible light.

Sunlight also contains UV light and is a good source of Vitamin D. It also kills the harmful microorganism's present because of its disinfectant properties. The disadvantage of excessive sunlight consumption is that it can cause sunburn and other skin related diseases. Ultraviolet light has many uses in general which would be further discussed throughout the essay. It can help the light bulbs to use the radiation as a source of energy and hence illuminate the environment. This paper would highlight the possible uses of Ultraviolet light with accordance to the needs in the world today.

The word ultraviolet stands for 'beyond violet'. In the spectrum of light which is visible, the wavelength of light tends to decrease whereas the energy that is present in the electromagnetic waves keeps on increasing. The range starts from red and changes from orange, yellow, green, blue to violet eventually. Therefore, UV light is shorter in wavelength and possesses more energy than violet radiation waves. Usually UV light is measured in nanometers. The range defined for ultraviolet is between 10nm to 400nm.

The characterization of ultraviolet light can be from UV-A, UV-B or UV-C depending on how the wavelength is decreasing. Another way to classify ultraviolet light when it comes to astronomy is by characterizing through 'near, middle, far and extreme.' (Bolton & Cotton 12). Ultraviolent light has many benefits for example the UV light present in the sunlight can produce vitamin D which is essential for human growth and prevents from many harmful diseases like cancer, heart diseases, rickets etc.. The UV light present in the sun activates a chemical in our body that eventually forms the vitamin.

It is observed that an excessive absorption of sunlight can cause skin diseases and sunburn. "Ultraviolet light has been used for centuries to treat a myriad of health and skin problems in the form of natural sunlight or more recently by artificial UV generated sources." (Baranoski, 154) Another purpose of ultraviolet waves is that it is used in the restoration of artwork. Ultraviolet waves help in restoration of art and therefore while buying, framing, selling or praising an artwork, knowledge of its prior restoration is necessary.

It is here that the role of Ultraviolet lights can be put to use and decide upon whether the artwork is a masterpiece or not. The restorer can judge the damages that are present in the artwork by using UV light. This can help the dealers as well as the buyer to judge the actual value of the work they are about to buy or sell. Initially done restoration can be judged by the help of an ultraviolet lamp (Bazley 185). When in a dark room the artwork is exposed to ultraviolet waves travelling at a rate of 365nm it shows the changes that have been made to it.

The changes detected can be the repainting, repairing and also the signature that is floating on the artwork which is not usually visible through naked eye. When the UV light is transmitted at such a wavelength then most of the materials take in the UV energies present and transmit these energies into light that is visible to the human eye and can be then easily distinguished. It should be noted here that the light is not reflected but is emitted. At times it is seen that these rays are absorbed without causing any emission making the portion to appear quite dark as compared to the fluorescent portion.

Therefore this makes it feasible for inspecting any form of artwork present (Bazley 184-187). Another benefit of ultraviolet light is seen in cases of identification of certain objects. It is seen that police, intelligence and other agencies that work for safety use UV lamps or torches for the purpose of identification. It helps in detecting, identifying and recovering of the things that have been lost, stolen or need to be verified. Objects that are treated by UV based marking technology prove to be of immense help for the purpose of identification.

It is utilized for the purpose of detecting 'UV based gels and cream' for the identification of convicts who are a part of metal robbery. Expensive items can utilize this marking technology so that evidences that are apparently invisible to the naked eye can get obvious when they are enlightened with the UV light. In many cases it is seen that if the owner of a lost object has marked the object then it can be easily located by the help of a UV lamp. This UV lamp will aid to locate the marking and eventually lead to the development of a specific code by the forensic service department.

Therefore ultraviolet lights can be used to overcome thefts and robberies helping the intelligence in many ways. In the same way real ID'S and fake ID'S are another area of concern. Identity are being made in a fake way by the help of ultraviolet light by various methods that can produce accurate identity cards. Fake ID'S are being used in many places and can be quite harmful for obvious reasons. At times the technology used for such ID'S is so strong that no electronic security device can trace them.

These fake ID'S are a threat to a country and the same way by using a ultraviolet lamp it can be figured out whether the identity card is fake or not. Furthermore another major issue of concern is of counterfeiting money which can also be stopped with the help of UV lights. Continuous progress in the field of technology has revolutionized the features of security systems that are used to counterfeit. These features are a way to make detection fairly easy and counterfeiting equally hard. The way to overcome counterfeits is to integrate 'UV fluorescent material' onto the papers that are used to produce money itself.

The currency detectors that use UV counterfeit are used to suspect and locate the special kind of inks that are only visible when they are hit by a particular and precise wavelength of UV lights. (Tilstone, 94) Hence the ultraviolet light has several benefits which if utilized appropriately might prove to be of great benefit. These radiations can cause immense benefit in many fields causing greater room for advancement and progress. In the field of medicine it has great implications and can cause benefit to human beings if consumed efficiently.

Despite its great usage today it has been used for some unethical or illegal purposes but that can easily be overcome if effective measures are taken. Intelligence has been using these UV lights since a long time to ensure safety. Ultraviolet radiation being invisible to the human eye can help to finish counterfeits as it can easily detect and distinguish between the real and the fake. Artists are even benefiting from these ultraviolet rays as they can now easily verify the quality of a product.

Therefore it can be said that UV light is essential and has great implications if used in a proper manner Works cited: Baranoski, Sharon, and Elizabeth A. Ayello. Wound Care Essentials: Practice Principles. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004. Print Top of Form Bazley, Tom. Crimes of the Art World. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, 2010. PrintBottom of Form Top of Form Bolton, James R, and Christine A. Cotton. The Ultraviolet Disinfection Handbook. Denver, CO: American Water Works Association, 2008.

Internet resourceBottom of Form. Tilstone, William J, Kathleen A. Savage, and Leigh A. Clark. Forensic Science: An Encyclopedia of History, Methods, and Techniques. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Print.