Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: RyanGuyardo on 13/11/2010 04:20:47

Title: Why colored cloth seems to be darker when it's wet?
Post by: RyanGuyardo on 13/11/2010 04:20:47

It's obvious when we sweat in colored shirt, especially light colored one. why don't white nor black have the same obvious effect?

Title: Why colored cloth seems to be darker when it's wet?
Post by: lightarrow on 13/11/2010 15:19:30

A water layer reduces the "effective" refraction's index of the surface; this reduces reflectivity and so the material appears to have more colour "saturation", that is the colour is less mixed with white (incident) light.

Title: Why colored cloth seems to be darker when it's wet?
Post by: lightarrow on 13/11/2010 15:20:38

Quote from: lightarrow on 13/11/2010 15:19:30

A water layer reduces the "effective" refraction's index of the surface; this reduces reflectivity and so the material appears to have more colour "saturation" and darker, because the colour = light reflected back is less mixed with white (incident) light.