Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: K N JAMESON on 13/01/2010 16:30:02

Title: Can coloured glass be used to start fires?
Post by: K N JAMESON on 13/01/2010 16:30:02

K N JAMESON  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Can coloured glass be used to start a fire from the Sun's rays?  

Everything I can find about glass being used to start fires talks about clear glass or mirrors.

What do you think?

Title: Can coloured glass be used to start fires?
Post by: LeeE on 13/01/2010 18:18:17

Coloured glass and mirrors filter out and block some of the light passing through, or being reflected, so coloured glass (lenses) or mirrors would be less effective for starting fires than clear ones.

Title: Can coloured glass be used to start fires?
Post by: chris on 13/01/2010 19:53:56

...because the less light there is reaching the target the less energy is imparted and hence the ultimate temperature is lower (just to complete the argument LeeE was making above).

Chris

Title: Can coloured glass be used to start fires?
Post by: Bored chemist on 13/01/2010 20:57:43

Coloured glass absorbs visible light, it may, or may not, absorb the IR which does a lot of the heating.