The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. General Science
  3. General Science
  4. Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?

  • 16 Replies
  • 15774 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline CZARCAR (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 686
  • Activity:
    0%
Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« on: 30/09/2011 10:54:00 »
suppose its 85*f indoors- would I be better cooled wearing a white or black teeshirt?
« Last Edit: 04/07/2017 09:14:21 by chris »
Logged
 



Offline neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #1 on: 30/09/2011 12:23:26 »
I would say white...as it reflective of radiated heat whereas... the darker hue, absorbs and would be of benefit when it's colder.
Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 

Offline peppercorn

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 1466
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 2 times
    • solar
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #2 on: 30/09/2011 12:37:40 »
Normal body temp is apparently 98.6°F.
So at 85°F ambient you'd be the radiating 'body' - so black is best.

None at all would be much better though!
Logged
Quasi-critical-thinker
 

Offline CZARCAR (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 686
  • Activity:
    0%
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #3 on: 30/09/2011 14:25:27 »
Quote from: peppercorn on 30/09/2011 12:37:40
Normal body temp is apparently 98.6°F.
So at 85°F ambient you'd be the radiating 'body' - so black is best.

None at all would be much better though!
But then theres the flip side called winter
Logged
 

Offline CliffordK

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 6596
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 61 times
  • Site Moderator
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #4 on: 05/10/2011 18:22:11 »
Perhaps you need a T-Shirt that has knitting with black on the inside (to absorb body heat), and white on the outside (to reflect ambient heat).

White and black should radiate heat equally well.

Make the shirt reversible so you can flip it inside-out in the winter. [:)]
Logged
 



Offline CZARCAR (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 686
  • Activity:
    0%
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #5 on: 05/10/2011 18:34:12 »
Saw an Arab woman on tv wearing black sheet dress & wonderd & then figured she spent her time keeping house inddor & the black sheet dress kept her cooled
Logged
 

Offline alvinsmith

  • First timers
  • *
  • 4
  • Activity:
    0%
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #6 on: 11/10/2011 09:33:57 »
I think it's not in the color, It's in the thickness of the clothes :D

how to get rid of spam
« Last Edit: 11/10/2011 10:50:14 by imatfaal »
Logged
 

Offline CliffordK

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 6596
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 61 times
  • Site Moderator
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #7 on: 11/10/2011 13:49:14 »
If one is primarily concerned with absorption/radiation of infrared.  Then one should ask how different colors affect infrared.

I believe that aluminum and silver-mylar does reflect IR.  Do black and white colors also absorb/reflect IR similar to how they absorb/reflect visible light?

If I had an IR sensor, then the experiments would be easy to conduct using a simple heat source, and various colored papers or cloths.

Does your "birthday suit" count for staying cool?
Logged
 

Offline peppercorn

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 1466
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 2 times
    • solar
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #8 on: 13/10/2011 18:11:45 »
Quote from: CliffordK on 11/10/2011 13:49:14
Does your "birthday suit" count for staying cool?

In my book it does! [:D]
Quote from: peppercorn on 30/09/2011 12:37:40
Normal body temp is apparently 98.6°F. So at 85°F ambient you'd be the radiating 'body' - so black is best.

None at all would be much better though!

You make a good point about infra-red - the question could be rephrased in terms of clothes that are black or white at I.R. frequencies.
Logged
Quasi-critical-thinker
 



Offline neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #9 on: 13/10/2011 18:56:37 »
Incidentally...I still think i am right !..I don't know why ( because I'm a sheep)..I just know I am !...so there !!!
Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 

Offline CZARCAR (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 686
  • Activity:
    0%
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #10 on: 14/10/2011 13:17:44 »
why is the heat dissipation grid on the back of my fridge painted black & the compressor also?   woodstove2!
Logged
 

Offline peppercorn

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 1466
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 2 times
    • solar
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #11 on: 14/10/2011 22:46:05 »
Quote from: CZARCAR on 14/10/2011 13:17:44
[then] why is the heat dissipation grid on the back of my fridge painted black & the compressor also?   woodstove2!

Is this in reply to Neil?
A (if one were needed): it's hotter than it's surroundings, so black would seem sensible.
Logged
Quasi-critical-thinker
 

Offline CZARCAR (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 686
  • Activity:
    0%
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #12 on: 15/10/2011 00:39:18 »
BIRTHDAY SUIT= if god is perfect & created man, why black in africa & white in europe?
Logged
 



Offline neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #13 on: 15/10/2011 01:48:59 »
Quote from: CZARCAR on 15/10/2011 00:39:18
BIRTHDAY SUIT= if god is perfect & created man, why black in africa & white in europe?

Climate ?


Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 

Offline neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #14 on: 15/10/2011 01:49:59 »
Quote from: peppercorn on 14/10/2011 22:46:05
Quote from: CZARCAR on 14/10/2011 13:17:44
[then] why is the heat dissipation grid on the back of my fridge painted black & the compressor also?   woodstove2!

Is this in reply to Neil?
A (if one were needed): it's hotter than it's surroundings, so black would seem sensible.


The only response to me that is required is "yes neil , You are of course correct" (even if I'm wrong)  [;D]
Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 

Offline neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #15 on: 15/10/2011 01:50:54 »
Oh lookey !...I have broken my 21k posting !...I await my prize ! :-)
Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 

Offline CZARCAR (OP)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 686
  • Activity:
    0%
Re: Are black or white clothes better for keeping cool indoors?
« Reply #16 on: 15/10/2011 15:27:57 »
what happens to gold when it hits 21K?
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 1.656 seconds with 67 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.