Suntan Sally put on her bathing suit and relaxed in a room that was pitch black. At the same time Tanline Timmy put on his bathing suit and relaxed in a room filled with bright light. A couple hours later Suntan Sally had a bad sunburn while Tanline Timmy wasn't? How is this possible?
the infrared portion of the solar spectrum is responsible for sunburn
infrared is not part of the spectrum visible to humans
the pitch black room must have had infrared radiation sources
Timmy's bright lights emitted very little infrared
This scenario seems to defy common sense, but there could be a logical explanation. In order to understand what might have happened, we need to consider a few factors:
1. UV Exposure: The most likely reason for Suntan Sally's sunburn is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays are present in sunlight and can cause damage to the skin, leading to sunburns. However, it's important to note that UV rays can also be present in certain artificial light sources, such as tanning beds.
2. Sunscreen: One possible explanation is that Tanline Timmy applied sunscreen before entering the room with bright light. Sunscreen acts as a barrier between the skin and UV rays, reducing the risk of sunburn. If Sally did not apply sunscreen before entering the pitch-black room, her skin would have been more susceptible to UV damage.
3. Reflection: It's also worth considering the possibility of indirect UV exposure. If the room with bright light had reflective surfaces, such as mirrors or shiny walls, the UV rays could have bounced off these surfaces and onto Sally's skin. This indirect exposure could have caused her sunburn, even though she was in a room with no direct light source.
Overall, it appears that Suntan Sally's sunburn could be attributed to either her lack of sunscreen or indirect exposure to UV rays. Without further details, it's impossible to determine the exact cause with certainty, but these are some possibilities to consider based on the information provided.