Google science fair entry. Do ratings on sunglasses really matter?

1. Do Sunglasses really work?
By: Hannah Boyer

2. Table of Contents Data
The Question Averages
Hypothesis Graphs
Research Observations
Experiment

3. The Question
Do high rated sunglasses for UV protection block more
UV radiation than the ones that were not rated or rated
lower?
Are the labels on nonprescription sunglasses true to their
label?

4. Hypothesis
If sunglasses are exposed to general
sunlight, then the sunglasses with
the highest ratings should block
more of the invisible UV sunlight.

5. Research
Blue light can damage your retina over time
UVA and UVB light, long-range, UVA and short-range, UVB
rays
There are different types of covering on a sunglasses
Tinted sunglasses without UV protection will damage eyes
Blue blocking describes amber-colored lenses that protect eyes
from blue visible light.

6. Experiment
Dependent Variable: Controlled Variables:
Amount of light energy •Same the distance the
transmitted glass and sensors are from the glass
detected by energy sensing •Same time of day
probes •Ambient sunlight
•Same sensors
•Same computer
Constant Variables •Same data tools
Reading glasses, the •Same experimental setup
sun. •Same day

7. Experiment
Materials that I used were:
•Glass to hold the toilet paper in
•Toilet paper to hold the light sensor, UVA
and UVB sensors tightly
•Varner UVA sensor
•Varner UVB sensor
•Light sensor veneer software&
technology
•Vernier Lab Pro IndependentVariable:
•Thick cloth folded twice The sunglasses with varying
•Two paper towel roles to keep the UV protecting rating with
sunglasses propped different color lens.
Computer

8. Procedure
•first I set up all of my sensors to my lab pro to my computer
•that included UVA and UVB light sensors and the light sensor
•then I gave it a test to see if it worked just pointing it to the light
to sort of wake it up
•then I tried to put the sensors with the sunglasses and point it to
the sun but I had some trouble
•so I asked my dad for some input and he came out with the glass
a role of toilet paper, a towel, two roles of paper towels

9. Procedure
•he took some toilet paper and rapped it around the three sensors
•he carefully put the rapped sensors in the toilet paper role and stuck
the sensors in the glass
•then the glass on the towel
•then the paper towel roles on the out the out side and put the
sunglasses in the roles across the sensors.
•i then measured experiment by every 20 seconds
•took readings at 20 of exposure

10. Data

11. Observations
S1, S7, S9, S10, S11 will not protect the wearers eyes because they let in a
considerable amount of radiation and light
The ones with the labels did as good as the others (with an exception to S1,
S7, S9, S10, S11, S15, S16)
The averages with the clear sunglasses in have a considerable difference
between the sunglasses with labels and the ones without labels
The averages without the clear sunglasses still have a considerable difference
between the labels for UVA but for the UVB the average is the same and for
the light sensor it is a small difference

12. Averages
Comparison with clear glasses Comparison without clear glasses
Without With Without With
Energy Energy
labels labels labels labels
UVA 1469 140 UVA 292 140
UVB 26 16 UVB 16 16
Light Light
6482 5124 5823 5124
sensor sensor

13. Errors
I found that when I had multiple sensors in my hand I did not get
a satisfactory outcome
It took me a while to get a solution to that
Holding multiple sensors were hard when I had to hold the
sunglasses to the right place where the sensors
had some trouble with keeping materials labeled and in order
that day was very hazy with pollution

14. Graphs of Data

15. My Graphs of experiment
S1 S3
S2 S4

16. S5 S6
S7
S8

17. S9 S10
S11 S12

18. S13 S14
S15 Sun

19. Conclusion
Once i completed the experiment i averaged the outcomes
labeled to unlabeled
Then I took out the clear glasses and then did the same labeled
to unlabeled
My experiment shows that when averaged the labeled sunglasses
do better that unlabeled
looking at the outcomes from my experiment individually apart
from a selected few they preform around the same

20. Conclusion
When buying a random pair of sunglasses dont worry most will
protect your eyes too
When buying for eye protection dont buy over-the-counter
fakes
Buy them professionally made no matter how much they cost if
you want your eyes protected