Why is it that when things get wet they get darker, even though water is clear??

Question

oh you peoples cant you come up with funny answers!!!

Answer 1

is this why black ppl, are dark? bc theyre wet white ppl ;o)

Answer 2

I'm not a scientist, so I can't completely answer your question correctly; however, maybe I can partially answer it:

Your question is like comparing apples to oranges because when water gets onto something like fabric you aren't changing the pigment (like if you added paint or dye). Because you're not changing the pigment the "rules of pigmentation" wouldn't apply.

When water gets onto fabric/rug it temporarily changes the make-up (if that's the right term) of the fabric. The threads seem to expand and water fills into spaces where thread had been (and will be again when the water leaves by evaporating).

I think the color change has something to do with one of the following guesses:

Either it has something to do with the reflection of light onto fabric versus onto water, or else it could have something to do with the fact that when water fills into spaces in the thread because it has no pigment the color could appear to be a blend of the color and a non-color (of the water - and that appears gray). Maybe, too, it has to do with the density of the water combined with the thread as compared to the density of the thread dry.

Picture the wet T-shirt thing: The white shirt may appear darker but the thing with it is it can now be seen through. What happens is the threads swell but are thinner and now contain the water.

Anyway, maybe it isn't as important to know what molecule changes occur or how light is reflected as it is to realize that you are not changing the pigment of the fabric and so "the rules of pigmentation" don't apply.

Answer 3

It depends on what you mean. If you mean something in the water as in an object in the lake that looks dark this is because the water is not pure. If you do the same thing in Lake Tahoe, you see things clearly way down because the water is clean.

If you mean something turns dark when in water, this could be because the item oxidizes. An example is iron which oxidizes to iron oxide which is rust. This is accelerated in water.

Answer 4

What, are you coming up some kind of mantra to meditate on? Why is a deer's poop so little when they have such big asses?
You MUST be bored this is the second question I've noticed you've posted.
Ok. it is a good question. I was just wandering where that came from.

Answer 5

sparkling water, like from the faucet, does not mirror gentle. maximum issues with shade to them do mirror gentle incredibly. If the water gets on that merchandise, it prevents that spot from reflecting gentle, consequently making the colour darker. in basic terms a theory. XP

Answer 6

Your science is lies. Repent!

Everyone knows that water is evil and that dry things are good. Water sucks the positive energy from the dry forces in the universe and makes them darker.

Obviously, this is why we never take a shower with our clothes on.

Regardless, harlot, your picture is making my pants darker.
Wicked temptress!

Answer 7

Because the water absorbs some of the light that would ordinarily reflect off the object.

Answer 8

water bends light waves

you can see it by putting a pencil into a clear glass of water

so water bends the lightwaves, and things look darker!

Answer 9

I think that the Refraction of light over the waters surface intensifies the colour... Just a guess.

Answer 10

Uh, this is a guess, but water bends light, so I guess it has to do with the water bending the light that reflects off the object.

Answer 11

Because the water reflects its surroundings such as trees.