ScienceFocus.com

Can I get sunburnt through glass?

Vincent Bradley, Canterbury

Ordinary glass absorbs 97 per cent of the UVB rays that cause sunburn and some skin cancers, and 37 per cent of the less harmful UVA radiation. This translates to a protection of about SPF30, so you can still get burned with long enough exposure. Car windscreens have a plastic layer bonded between two layers of glass and this blocks all the UVB and 80 per cent of the UVA, making sunburn very unlikely.

Submitted by Luis Villazon

The suns heat is enhanced through Glass.

Wed, 2009-08-19 10:01
Guest

Imagine a magnifying glass with the sun directed through it... In similar ways Glass also magnifies the Sun... I dont understand why, but it does.. This is to just back me up... againt any other comments.

That's a terrible response

Fri, 2009-10-23 10:11
Guest

That's a terrible response mate. Not the same situation at all - glass isn't inherently a focus for light, it can defract it as well (and therefore decrease the energy focused on you?)

As for below comment, see 'long enough exposure' in the answer. You fell asleep, I assume for longer than six hours? Or you just have bad, bad windows.

You can Still get Sun Burnt...

Wed, 2009-08-19 09:56
Guest

I know you can, Because when I was in high school at about 15 years old. I once went to bed leaving my bedroom curtains Fully open, accidently not knowning that the sun shine through my window in the early morning... the sun isnt supposed to be as hot during that time... By unfortunatly for, when i went to use the toilet, I looked in the mirror and saw my face was partially sun burnt and also my neck. If you dont believe me, you should find yourself in the same conditions as me and see what happens...

So the Answer is Yes..

Richard Gaia. Staffordshire