Light-V- Dark Clothing

busterb • Apr 17, 2008 1:02 pm
I've work close to equator a few times and alway thought that light colors were better. Any science to back this up?
Other night, on History channel a Brit lady was walking around in Egypt in a dark paints suite. And Mr. cool on CSI Miami always has dark crap on.

I understand that some places in that zone have hi-humidity.

I've seen welders in S. La. wearing blue denim shirts in the hot summer sun, me I always wore suntans, (can't spell the K word.)
Shawnee123 • Apr 17, 2008 1:17 pm
lol Mr Cool on CSI Miami. Hell, that man works up a sweat just taking his glasses off and putting them back on, and cocking his head sideways.

I've always heard dark colors absorb heat, light colors reflect. All the science, I don't understand.
lumberjim • Apr 17, 2008 1:23 pm
jinx called him the new Wm Shattner the other night. I peed a little.
Image
BigV • Apr 17, 2008 2:06 pm
Shawnee123;446475 wrote:
snip--
I've always heard dark colors absorb heat, light colors reflect. All the science, I don't understand.


Seeing something is when your eye receives the light reflected (or emitted) by an object. Imagine two shirts, one white, one black, lying in the sun. The same amount of light is shining on each one, but the white one appears brighter to your eyes. It appears brighter because it is reflecting more light. The black one appears darker because it is reflecting less light. But since they both receive the same amount of light and reflect different amounts of light, how can you account for the difference?

The answer is the black one *absorbs* more light. Some of that light absorbed can be felt as warmth. You've certainly experienced this yourself.

So, depending on what you're trying to accomplish, one shirt color over the other can make a difference.
Shawnee123 • Apr 17, 2008 2:08 pm
Hey, HLJ is in that pic, fixin' to fly!

Thanks for the 'splanation, BigV. Yeah, light is absorbed, not heat. :blush:
HungLikeJesus • Apr 17, 2008 2:26 pm
If light is absorbed, eventually the shirt would be full of light and you would have to lock it in a dark closet to be able to sleep at night.
Shawnee123 • Apr 17, 2008 2:27 pm
What if I sleep in a dark closet?
HungLikeJesus • Apr 17, 2008 2:29 pm
Shawnee, I think it's time for you to come out of the closet.
SteveDallas • Apr 17, 2008 2:30 pm
Wait, if light is reflecting from the shirt at the speed of light, how will you be able to move around?
Shawnee123 • Apr 17, 2008 2:31 pm
HungLikeJesus;446497 wrote:
Shawnee, I think it's time for you to come out of the closet.


Even at night?
Griff • Apr 18, 2008 1:47 pm
SteveDallas;446499 wrote:
Wait, if light is reflecting from the shirt at the speed of light, how will you be able to move around?


Moving isn't the problem temporal flux is the problem. No wonder noone understands anybody we're all on different time planes.
Cicero • Apr 18, 2008 2:49 pm
God didn't create light. God created "dark suckers". Fools.
;)