Random Friday afternoon Science Question!

Dee · 19-06-2009, 15:32

I have two bottles of suncream. One is Factor 4, the other is Factor 8.

Question: If I mix them together, will I get Factor 6, or Factor 12?

Discuss.

leowyatt · 19-06-2009, 15:33

Well I would have thought you'd get Factor 12

Blackstar · 19-06-2009, 15:40

You'd get neither, it doesn't 'add' up in any way, you would simply have factor 8 or 4 depending on the ratio of mix.

Pheebs · 19-06-2009, 15:41

Nope!

I don't know the ins and outs of chemical mixing and stuff so it may have some weird affect but if anything, you'd decrease the effectiveness of the factor 8 cream as in essence, you'd be watering it down.

Pheebs · 19-06-2009, 15:46

Thought more about it.

I'm not sure what causes the cream to protect your skin buuut I would have thought it was something that you needed to increase the amount of per bottle for it to be stronger yeh?

So like... if you have a 100ml of cream and 40ml of that is sun blocking stuff and another 100ml of cream and 80ml of that was sun blocking stuff... and then you added it together...

You'd end up with: 200ml of cream stuff with 120ml of sun blocking stuff diluted in it.

*tries to think of math*

So the 40ml of 100ml = 4/10's affective

The 80ml of 100ml = 8/10's affective

The 120ml/200 = 6/10's affective

Yeh?

NokkonWud · 19-06-2009, 16:10

I could only see you having 8.

Briggykins · 19-06-2009, 16:58

Two sandwiches.

Rich_L · 19-06-2009, 17:07

If it didn't render either of them ineffective I guess it'd be 6.

If you believe the expert bods though, anything under SPF15 is basically useless so make of that what you will

semi-pro waster · 19-06-2009, 17:07

You'd have factor 8 as a maximum I believe, as said it's not additive so you'd never get beyond what you've currently got as the strongest suncream.

LeperousDust · 19-06-2009, 17:10

You'd be watering down the most effective, so at best 8, at worst something between 4 and 8.

19-06-2009, 15:32	#1
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Random Friday afternoon Science Question! I have two bottles of suncream. One is Factor 4, the other is Factor 8. Question: If I mix them together, will I get Factor 6, or Factor 12? Discuss.

19-06-2009, 15:33	#2
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Well I would have thought you'd get Factor 12 __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

19-06-2009, 15:40	#3
Blackstar Ambassador of Awesome Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edinburger Posts: 3,676	You'd get neither, it doesn't 'add' up in any way, you would simply have factor 8 or 4 depending on the ratio of mix. __________________ Jim Garrahy's Fudge Kitchen

19-06-2009, 15:41	#4
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Nope! I don't know the ins and outs of chemical mixing and stuff so it may have some weird affect but if anything, you'd decrease the effectiveness of the factor 8 cream as in essence, you'd be watering it down. __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

19-06-2009, 15:46	#5
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Thought more about it. I'm not sure what causes the cream to protect your skin buuut I would have thought it was something that you needed to increase the amount of per bottle for it to be stronger yeh? So like... if you have a 100ml of cream and 40ml of that is sun blocking stuff and another 100ml of cream and 80ml of that was sun blocking stuff... and then you added it together... You'd end up with: 200ml of cream stuff with 120ml of sun blocking stuff diluted in it. tries to think of math So the 40ml of 100ml = 4/10's affective The 80ml of 100ml = 8/10's affective The 120ml/200 = 6/10's affective Yeh? __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk Last edited by Pheebs; 19-06-2009 at 16:15.

19-06-2009, 16:10	#6
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	I could only see you having 8. __________________

19-06-2009, 16:58	#7
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	Two sandwiches. __________________

19-06-2009, 17:07	#8
Rich_L Dr Cocktapuss Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seven Sizzles Posts: 1,044	If it didn't render either of them ineffective I guess it'd be 6. If you believe the expert bods though, anything under SPF15 is basically useless so make of that what you will __________________

19-06-2009, 17:07	#9
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	You'd have factor 8 as a maximum I believe, as said it's not additive so you'd never get beyond what you've currently got as the strongest suncream. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

19-06-2009, 17:10	#10
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	You'd be watering down the most effective, so at best 8, at worst something between 4 and 8. __________________