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Multiple Choice
Can visible light cause damage that leads to skin cancer?
A
No, only radio waves can cause skin cancer.
B
Yes, visible light is the primary cause of skin cancer.
C
No, visible light does not have enough energy to cause DNA damage that leads to skin cancer.
D
Yes, visible light and infrared radiation both directly cause skin cancer.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the electromagnetic spectrum and the energy levels of different types of radiation. Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. The energy of radiation increases as you move from radio waves to gamma rays.
Step 2: Recognize the relationship between energy and the ability to cause DNA damage. Radiation with higher energy, such as UV radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays, has enough energy to break chemical bonds in DNA, potentially leading to mutations and cancer. Visible light, however, does not have enough energy to cause such damage.
Step 3: Compare visible light to UV radiation. UV radiation, which is adjacent to visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum, has higher energy and is known to cause DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer. Visible light lacks the energy required to directly damage DNA.
Step 4: Address the incorrect statements in the problem. Radio waves do not cause skin cancer because they have very low energy. Infrared radiation, like visible light, also lacks the energy to directly damage DNA and cause skin cancer.
Step 5: Conclude that visible light does not have enough energy to cause DNA damage that leads to skin cancer. The primary cause of skin cancer is UV radiation, which has sufficient energy to damage DNA and initiate cancerous changes in skin cells.