Colors and Temperature

By Becca Kholos

Big Question

• Does a black or a darker color absorb more heat than white or a lighter color?

question

• If heat is applied to a dark color and a light color, then the darker color is going to absorb more heat than the lighter color. Dark colors absorb all colors from light. When light is absorbed by a black object, the energy of light changes so the object releases or gives off heat. White colors absorb no colors from the light. White reflects all colors so there is no heat made.

1. Darker colors are better absorbers of light and become better radiators of heat.

2. Light doesn’t disappear it changes into radiation of heat.

3. A dark color give off more heat because it absorbs more light.

4. Absorbing light makes an object hotter.

5. All colors and objects give and take in energy.

6. Dark colors absorb all colors from light.

7. Lighter colors absorb no colors from the light, they reflect all colors.

Materials

• 2 equal size boxes• 3 thermometers (standard)• Ice• A large tray• Rock salt or sea salt • Plastic wrap• Black and white spray paint• Paper and a pencil to record findings

Procedures

1. Paint 1 box black and 1 box white.

2. While the boxes dry place 3 thermometers on a table and bring to room temp.

3. Line the thermometers in a row on a table4. Place 1 thermometer under each box. 5. Place the third thermometer on the table

outside the boxes.

6. Record the starting time.

7. Put the lids on each box and turn the lamps on above the boxes and third thermometer.

Continued

8. After 30 minutes record the heated temperatures.

9. Place ice on a tray. Sprinkle with salt and then cover with plastic.

10. Place boxes on the plastic. Place 3rd thermometer on the plastic also.

11. Place heat lamps above the boxes and 3rd thermometer.

12. After the next 30 minutes record the cooled temperatures.

First Picture

Second picture

Third picture

Control/variables

• Control: Heat lamps and thermometers

• Variable: The black and white boxes

4-5 Observations from experiment

1. During the experiment, the black box was warmer to the touch.

2. The room temperature for each thermometer was different.

3. The heat lamps were not strong enough to go through the boxes.

4. The ice made the temperatures drop a lot.

* = degrees

Black box

No box White box

Room temperatu

re

21*C 30*C 28*C

Heated for 30

minutes

26*C 31*C 21*C

Cooled for 30

minutes

10*C 25*C 9*C

Degrees dropped

16*C 6*C 12*C

Analysis/data• The experiment did test my hypothesis. My

hypothesis was correct, the black box got hotter quicker. My experiment was like a hot summer day. The temperatures of the black box rose 5*C higher than the other thermometers. In fact the white box thermometer got cooler while the heat lamp was on. This could be because white reflects light so no heat could get in. During the experiment the black box felt hotter to the touch than the white box. The thermometer with no box gained and dropped temperature like it was suppose to.

Conclusion • My hypothesis was partially correct.

The darker box absorbed more light/heat. However, the second part of the experiment didn’t turn out as expected. I would change it so the thermometers were not lying directly on the ice. This just made the thermometers cold and the light source wasn’t strong enough to make a change. Also, I would get stronger heat lamps.

Questions !•The one question that I have is: How do darker colors change the light to heat? What is the science behind it?

Research web pages

• www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids• www.bukisa.com/articles/64635 • www.newton.dep.ang.gov• http://answers.yahoo.com/questions/index

This is a black and white box almost like the

one I used

This is also a box

Ain’t it cool

More boxes

Heat lamps (used for heating)

ohh

The End!

that was my

sciencefair

PowerPoint!