Heat and Clothing

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
Why are the dark clothes getting more heat under the sun than the white ones?
- Teddy (age 12)
Canada, BC
A:
dark clothes absorb most of the light that hits them, hence they are dark. with that in mind we must remember that rays of light have energy and one of the laws of physics is that energy cannot be created or destroyed it may only change forms. so when light strikes and is absorped by dark clothing, that energy is changed into heat.
white clothing on the other hand simply reflects more of the light is receives.

(published on 10/22/2007)