Sunglasses and Light We Cannot See
When you step outside on a bright sunny day, you see warm yellow sunlight. You might squint your eyes. The sun gives off light that helps us see trees, grass, and our friends. But the sun also sends down a kind of light that human eyes cannot see. This hidden light is called ultraviolet light, or UV light.
Even though you cannot see UV light, it can still reach your eyes. Too much UV light over time can hurt your eyes. That is why people wear sunglasses when they play outside. Sunglasses are not just for looking cool or blocking the glare. Their most important job is to block invisible UV light.
Many people think that any dark pair of glasses will protect their eyes. This is not true! Just because a lens is dark gray, brown, or black does not mean it stops UV light. In fact, dark lenses without a special UV filter can cause your eyes to open wider. That can let even more harmful, invisible rays enter.
A safe pair of sunglasses needs a special invisible coating. This coating acts like a tiny shield. It catches the UV rays and stops them before they reach your eyes. The tint or color of the glass does not create this shield by itself.
- ultraviolet light:
- A kind of light from the sun that human eyes cannot see.
- glare:
- A very bright, harsh light that makes it hard to see.
- lens:
- A clear piece of glass or plastic in glasses that you look through.
- coating:
- A thin layer spread over an object to cover or protect it.
- shield:
- Something that blocks danger and keeps you safe.
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Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
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Purpose
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Structure
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the name of the invisible light that comes from the sun?
- 2Why can too much UV light be bad for you?
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About this explanatory article passage for 2nd Grade
“Sunglasses and Light We Cannot See” is a explanatory article reading passage about sun safety and UV light, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (308 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.