Sunglasses are often taken for granted as just another fashion accessory, but they are actually the result of engineering technology that is both powerful and delicate. In order to create a final product that is protective, stylish, and durable, engineers were forced to deal with the complex nature of light -- especially ultraviolet radiation and polarization -- and the way people view the world. This fine line between form and function has resulted in a final creation that is appealing from both a visual and scientific standpoint -- it protects your eyes and looks "cool" at the same time.
Introduction
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Tom Cruise in "Risky Business." The Blues
Brothers. The cast of "Reservoir Dogs." In modern popular culture, the images of these
stars are linked by one of the most important safety devices ever developed. It just
happens to be a stylish fashion accessory as well.
Sunglasses seem like simple inventions - just two pieces of tinted glass that cover your eyes. But modern sunglasses have two distinct and important requirements: to protect your eyes from the harmful elements of sunlight and to look fashionable. Herein lies the engineering challenge: to design technologies that can conquer the complex and potentially dangerous nature of light while remaining aesthetically pleasing. In order to fulfill these complex objectives, engineers have developed lenses and filters that counter the harmful effects of UV rays, as well as high-tech, bendable metal frames to safely house them. Modern sunglasses are true combinations of form and function.
Beyond Style: Why We Need Sunglasses
The complexity of sunglass technology is dictated by the nature of sunlight itself.
When you think about sunlight, you are most likely imagining the range of colors that leave the sun and end up reaching your eye. It turns out that the sun emits more types of waves and energy than those that you can see. Visible light is just a small portion of what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
The electromagnetic spectrum is a system that classifies the energy of electromagnetic waves by their wavelengths. The spectrum, ordered from longest to shortest waves, is composed of radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and finally Gamma rays. The sunlight that reaches the earth consists of waves with wavelengths between 100 and 1,000,000 nanometers - ultraviolet, visible, and infrared waves (van Kuijk 180). The infrared waves are responsible for the heat we feel from sunlight, and the visible waves are responsible for what we see. It is the ultraviolet radiation waves that we - and our eyes - have to worry about.
