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    Can you obtain a suntan through glass? If not, then what are the strip lamps over a sunbed made of?

    Question #47492. Asked by gmackematix. (May 15 04 8:07 AM)


    Brainyblonde

    		Tanning beds contain bulbs which take the form of long fluorescent tubes which contain inert gases, a phosphorous coating and traces of mercury. Electricity that the beds run on ignites the tubes causing the mercury atoms to lose their stability. The only way they can return to their stable state is for them to release energy in the form of UV radiation. Tailoring the phosphorous coating allows the desired UV wavelengths to be emitted while unwanted ones are absorbed.
    http://www.tanning.eu.com/tanning_bed.htm


    To summarize briefly: some ultraviolet rays can pass through car window glass, although most of the burning (as opposed to tanning) rays can't. On the other hand, most sunlamps aren't made of ordinary glass--they're made of quartz or special UV-transparent glass.
    http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_163b.html

    May 15 04, 10:47 AM

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