Is it because of how light waves are refracted by water?
2006-07-22 23:25:44 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Colors are bright, when the ray of light falling in our eye has more energy; they are dark when less energy is falling in our eye.
The total light energy that is falling in our eye is less when the clothes are wet.
This is because; water has both the properties of reflection and refraction.
Before the clothes were not wet, we received the scattered light from the clothes.
But when they are wet, some of the light rays are reflected by the water; the remaining goes through water and then scattered by the clothes. The scattered light after passing through the water surface reaches us.
Thus in this process the intensity of light from the clothes are reduced and hence it looks dark.
If water were opaque we can't see the clothes at all. Since it is transparent, we are able to see the clothes but with less intensity.
2006-07-23 00:02:41 · answer #1 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The refractive index of the water allows for the light to penetrate deeper into the surface of object, reflecting off of the darker insides, making the object to appear darker.
2006-07-23 06:32:09 · answer #2 · answered by Zrk Zyzyk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wet clothes look darker since thr reflective properties of the fabric is altered by the water sticking to it.
some amount of light incident on the fabric which would have got reflected would be absorbed causing a sense of decreased light reaching our retina. less light, darker it looks.
2006-07-23 07:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by ram k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because, Light Waves reflect off them Slower!
2006-07-23 06:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by AlbertaGuy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmm wet clothes dont look darker
when they get wet they just look more transparent
and since our skin is in the way they look darker
2006-07-23 06:29:48 · answer #5 · answered by x_cybernet_x 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the sun radiates heat and if theres no sun it still looks darker but not as warm.a s long as u can see it you will think its darker because of the water or vaper
2006-07-23 06:30:24 · answer #6 · answered by geelongnick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they look darker, i dont think its because of refraction
2006-07-23 06:28:32 · answer #7 · answered by hanumistee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gee you cant get any technical than that (zyz zyz answerer) and therefore the wet clothes absorbs more light energy. you did answer half your question correctly!
2006-07-23 07:08:57 · answer #8 · answered by Jimmy Par 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because people have nipples.
...well most of us do.
...huh?
2006-07-23 06:28:53 · answer #9 · answered by Air 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmmmm...nice one
2006-07-23 06:27:36 · answer #10 · answered by Vikingsbeb26 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋