Colour & Mass: Does It Impact Weight?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on whether the color of two identical objects, with the same mass and composition but different paint colors, affects their weight. Participants concluded that color does not impact mass, as both objects maintain identical volume and density. The only scenario where mass might differ is when one object absorbs more energy from light, causing a slight increase in internal energy and thus mass. However, if both objects are kept at the same temperature, their masses remain unchanged.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mass, volume, and density (M = V × D)
  • Basic principles of energy absorption and thermal dynamics
  • Familiarity with the concept of internal energy in physics
  • Knowledge of photon energy and its relation to color
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between energy absorption and temperature in materials
  • Study the principles of thermal dynamics and internal energy
  • Explore the physics of light and color, particularly photon energy
  • Investigate how different materials respond to light absorption
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, material science, and engineering, particularly those interested in the effects of color and energy on physical properties.

alchemist
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if there's two identical object of the same mass and same composition but is of two different colours, would one weigh heavier than the other?? assuming that the coating of paint that gives the object its colour is of the same density for each colour and that same volume of each colour is used to colour the objects..
will the difference in mass due be to the amount of anergy absorbed through the different colours?
 
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The objects would not have different masses due to their colors alone.

If you shine a light on the objects, and one of them gets hotter than the other due to its greater absorption of the light, then yes, the hot would would be slightly more massive, due to its larger internal energy.

If you keep both objects at the same temperature, however, there will be no difference in their masses.

- Warren
 
Originally posted by alchemist
if there's two identical object of the same mass and same composition but is of two different colours

If they are identical, have the same mass and the same composition, how could they be of different color?
 


Originally posted by 1100f
If they are identical, have the same mass and the same composition, how could they be of different color?

alchemist said, in his first post: " assuming that the coating of paint that gives the object its colour is of the same density for each colour and that same volume of each colour is used to colour the objects."

In other words, each object is identical except for a thin coat of paint.

The question does make sense but the answer is, of course, that color will have absolutely no effect on the mass.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but since
M = V \times D,
if V_{color1} = V_{color2} and D_{color1} = D_{color2}, won't the masses be the same?
 
If seems to me that the question is about the frequency/energy/mass of photons, is it?
 

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