Sunscreen Tester Project
Introduction
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer for young adults. Wearing sunscreen can protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The effectiveness of a sunscreen is measured by its sun protection factor (SPF). The SPF indicates the amount of time you can remain in the sun before getting a burn. For example, a person wearing a sunscreen labeled SPF-10 can remain in the sun ten times longer than a person wearing no sunscreen. SPF ratings are approximate values, however, because most sunburns also depend on your skin type, the amount of sunscreen you applied, and the type of activity you are doing.
In this project, your challenge is to build a sensor-controlled robot to test the effectiveness of various sunscreens. Your robot should be fairly rugged, since you will be using it outdoors. You will use a Vernier UVB Sensor and a Vernier NXT Sensor Adapter connected to your LEGO NXT to measure UV levels and determine the best sunscreen.
Objectives
- Build a robotic device to test samples of sunscreen.
- Use the NXT to measure UVB levels.
- Use sensor data to select the most effective sunscreen.
Sensors and Equipment
This project/activity requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You will also need NXT Sensor Adapter and a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics system.
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
The preview does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book for classroom use.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for STEM with Vernier and LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.