Why does dark colors absorb heat

So, how do other colors work? The colors you see are determined by which wavelengths of light are being reflected back to you. For example, when you see a red wagon, all of the light wavelengths that are hitting the wagon are absorbed except for the red wavelengths.

These red wavelengths are being reflected back to your eyes. You then register the wagon as being red. Now, back to our question of why the black shirt would be hotter than a white one. Think about that black shirt. It is absorbing all of the wavelengths of light. Once those wavelengths are absorbed, they are converted into other types of energy. This usually means that the light is changed into heat. Some of that newly created heat will be released back into the air, but most of it will be emitted directly to your body.

The result is a feeling of being hotter. Your white shirt is the better option to wear on a hot day because it will do the exact opposite of a black shirt. The white shirt will not absorb any of the light wavelengths. That leaves the shirt with nothing to convert into heat. The white shirt will then feel cooler against your body. While this science explains the idea of a white shirt feeling cooler, the humidity and wind will play a part in your comfort, and these have nothing to do with the color you choose to wear.

Light and heat are both forms of energy. Light energy can change into heat. This backs up our previous explanation of why dark colors absorb more heat. Keep in mind that different wavelengths of light will have different amounts of energy. If an object absorbs yellow light, then it will reflect all of the other colors of light and it will look purple.

Why do black objects absorb more heat light than lighter colored objects? What do wavelengths have to do with it? Answer 1: Heat and light are both different types of energy. Click Here to return to the search form. It absorbs all light on the visual spectrum, creating a void of light.

As a result of absorbing all light wavelengths, black is the hottest possible color. White is the opposite. White light is the sum of all wavelengths, so when some people view a white object, they are really viewing all visible light hitting the object's surface and reflecting back. Some heat is still absorbed based on the nature of the object's material, but minimal additional heat is absorbed, making white the coolest possible color. Lucas Kittmer has been writing professionally since Which Colors Reflect More Light?

How is Light Transmitted? Light Spectrum Experiments. Characteristics of a Star. Regular Lights Vs. Laser Lights. What Do Stars Look Like?