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Clear Sunscreen: How Light Interacts with Matter
Version 4. Last updated: May 1, 2008.

This unit explores issues related to size and scale, specifically the effect of the size of nanopowders on the interactions of energy and matter (e.g., the absorption of light, addressing the electromagnetic spectrum and associated wavelengths). For example, old sunscreens use "large" zinc oxide particles, which block ultraviolet light but scatter visible light, giving the cream a white color. If nanopowders of zinc oxide are used instead, the cream is transparent, because the diameter of each nanoparticle is smaller than the wavelength of visible light.

Upon completing this unit, students will understand:

How the energies of different wavelengths of light interact differently with different kinds of matter.
Why particle size can affect the optical properties of a material.
That there may be health issues for nanosized particles that are undetermined at this time.
That it is possible to engineer useful materials with an incomplete understanding of their properties.
There are often multiple valid theoretical explanations for experimental data; to find out which one works best, additional experiments are required.
How to apply their scientific knowledge to be an informed consumer of chemical products.

Length: 5 lessons, up to 11 50-minute classroom periods if all lessons are used. Not all lessons are required. Use the lessons most appropriate for your students. A one-day version is also available.

Materials

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License. See Publication Information [PDF] for attribution information.

Download the entire Clear Sunscreen Unit [PDF] (47 MB) or download individual sections or files below.

Download a zip archive of the Microsoft Word and PPT source files (35 MB) if you want to adapt the materials under the Creative Commons license. PowerPoint [PPT] versions of the slides are also available separately, below.

For lesson 4, you will also need to:

Install the ChemSense Animator and review the ChemSense Animator Guide.
View the Clear Sunscreen Animations (requires Flash Player version 7 or higher) or copy the animations to your computer for offline viewing.

Front Matter

Download the preliminary pages, including the cover page, copyright and publication information, and table of contents.

Overview of Unit
Download Teacher materials [PDF]

For Anyone Planning to Teach Nanoscience...Read This First!
Clear Sunscreen Overview and Learning Goals
Unit at a Glance: Suggested Sequencing of Activities
Alignment of Unit Activities with Learning Goals
Alignment of Unit Activities with Curriculum Topics
List of Products that use Nanoparticle Ingredients₂
Clear Sunscreen Pretest/Posttest: Teacher Answer Sheet

Download Student materials [PDF]

Clear Sunscreen: Pretest
Clear Sunscreen: Posttest

Lesson 1: Introduction to Sun Protection
Enduring Understandings: 1 and 6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

Introduction to Sun Protection: Teacher Lesson Plan
Sun Protection: Understanding the Danger: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
Clear Sunscreen Initial Ideas: Teacher Instructions
Ultra-Violet (UV) Protection Lab Activity: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

Summary of Radiation Emitted by the Sun: Student Handout
Clear Sunscreen Initial Ideas: Student Worksheet
Ultra-Violet (UV) Protection Lab Activity: Student Instructions & Worksheet

Lesson 2: All About Sunscreens
Enduring Understandings: 2-6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

All About Sunscreens: Teacher Lesson Plan
Sunscreen Ingredients Activity: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key
All About Sunscreens: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
Light Reflection by Three Sunscreens: Teacher Answer Key
Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

Overview of Sunscreen Ingredients: Student Handout
Light Reflection by Three Sunscreens: Student Worksheet
Sunscreen Ingredients Activity: Student Instructions & Worksheet
Summary of FDA Approved Sunscreen Ingredients: Student Handout
Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Student Worksheet

Lesson 3: How Sunscreens Block: Absorption
Enduring Understandings: 1

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

How Sunscreens Block: The Absorption of UV Light: Teacher Lesson Plan
How Sunscreens Block: The Absorption of UV Light: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

Absorption of Light by Matter: Student Reading
Absorption Summary: Student Handout
Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Student Worksheet

Lesson 4: How Sunscreens Appear: Interactions with Visible Light
Enduring Understandings: 1, 2 and 6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

How Sunscreens Appear: Interactions with Visible Light: Teacher Lesson Plan
How Sunscreens Appear: Interactions with Visible Light: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
Ad Campaign Project (ChemSense Activity): Teacher Instructions & Grading Rubric
Sunscreens & Sunlight Animations: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key
Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

Scattering of Light by Suspended Clusters: Student Reading
Ad Campaign Project (ChemSense Activity): Student Instructions
Sunscreens & Sunlight Animations: Student Instructions & Worksheet
Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Student Worksheet

For the Ad Campaign activity, install the ChemSense Animator and review the ChemSense Animator Guide.

For the Sunscreen Animations, see the Clear Sunscreen Animations (requires Flash Player version 7 or higher).

If you would like to have a copy of the animation on your computer for offline viewing, download the following files to the same folder, and then open the sunscreenanimation.html file in your web browser.

Lesson 5: Culminating Activities
Enduring Understandings: 1-4 and 6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]