HELP !! SCiENCE PROJECT..!?!?!?

Question

Ok, so I'm doing a reseach project for biology. I'm studying UV rays and using color changing beads to test how they react to different colored lights by seeing what color they change to. I tested the beads under the light and I placed the beads on a bed of aluminum foil, thinking it would speed up the process, How long does it take for the beads to change color, and how can I speed up the process?

Answer 1

White light is actually the entire visible spectrum. UV light however, is different. Often stores sell items, like a "black light" which are UV bulbs. So first, make sure you are exposing the beads to UV light, not just an ordinary bulb. Because if the beads are ONLY sensitive to UV light (that is, they only change colors when exposed to UV light), they may never change or VERY slowly change (as there's always some UV light emitted from a regular bulb) when exposed to normal visible lights. In fact, often yellow lights are used to protect items from light-sensitive materials. In other words, if you used a yellow bulb, it may offer complete protection from UV light and the beads may never change color!

If you want to see color changes on the beads, either leave them out in the sun, expose them to black light or to fluroescent light. But just exposing the beads to different colored lights usually exposes them to mostly visible light, and such the beads will be slow to change (if ever).

I would revise your experiment. Put out the beads in the sun and then offer different screens to see which one protects the beads the most from turning colors. You can try porous screens, colored screens, plastic, glass, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 2

It dpends how much light you gave it and alos how much aluminum foil you put. If u out a miderat amount then it will 2 to 3 days, but if you put too little then it will 3 to 4 days. And i have never tried too much.
Hope this helps you.