- #1
Bad Monkey
- 29
- 0
General query about heat absorption. We all know that something that is black both absorbs and radiates heat better.
My question is how does this property vary across the spectrum, if at all, for different materials (if there is any difference?).
For instance, a black painted car will heat up more quickly than a white car in the daytime.
(At night time I assume it is the case that the black car retains heat less efficiently because it radiates the heat as IR - correct?)
Does this happen because
To further this I will pose some case examples:
I think that will do for now. Hopefully you'll see what I'm getting at!
My question is how does this property vary across the spectrum, if at all, for different materials (if there is any difference?).
For instance, a black painted car will heat up more quickly than a white car in the daytime.
(At night time I assume it is the case that the black car retains heat less efficiently because it radiates the heat as IR - correct?)
Does this happen because
- There is an IR component in the sunlight, and the black we see in the visible spectrum is a side effect of a property which in fact relates to IR
- Or, the visible light imparts energy to the car which is not reflected (hence black)
To further this I will pose some case examples:
- UV tends to destroy plastics, polyester & nylon, etc. Will a dyed white plastic last longer in sunlight than the black version? (I.e. does the visible black speak to its UV reflection factor)
- If there is a difference across the spectrum, does that mean that we can have something white which also radiates efficiently?
I think that will do for now. Hopefully you'll see what I'm getting at!