UV
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Physics
| Stands for | Ultraviolet |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
UV stands for Ultraviolet, a physics abbreviation.
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than violet light, about 10 to 400 nanometers, invisible to the human eye. Sunlight's UV tans and burns skin, makes vitamin D and drives most skin cancers; artificial UV sources sterilize water and surfaces, cure inks and resins, and make fluorescent materials glow.
Example: With the UV index at 9, the forecast advises sunscreen, a hat and shade around midday.
Usage notes
German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter discovered ultraviolet light in 1801 when he noticed that invisible rays beyond the violet end of a spectrum darkened silver chloride faster than visible light; he called them chemical rays. UV is divided into UVA (315-400 nm), UVB (280-315 nm) and UVC (100-280 nm), and the ozone layer absorbs all UVC and most UVB. Sunglasses labeled UV400 block wavelengths up to 400 nm.
Related abbreviations
More physics abbreviations
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- ALARA – As low as reasonably achievable
- ATLAS – A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS
- BEC – Bose-Einstein condensate
- c – Speed of light
- CCD – Charge-coupled device
- CERN – European Organization for Nuclear Research
- CMP – Condensed matter physics
- CMS – Compact Muon Solenoid
- COM – Center of mass
- CP – Charge-parity (symmetry)
- ELF – Extremely low frequency