Why does White absorb less heat then black?

Question

I've always been told that white, or light colors absorb less heat than black, or dark colors. Yet no one has told me why. Thus leading to my question, WHY?!!?

Answer 1

Sunlight is white light, and contains all the colors of the spectrum. We see objects as different colors because various objects or surfaces reflect some colors of the spectrum and absorb other colors. A fire engine looks red because its paint reflects red light to our eyesm and absorbs the other colors of the spectrum. Therefore the definition of black is a surface that doesn't reflect any colors of light, and the definition of white is a surface that reflects all the colors of the spectrum.

Answer 2

Regular everyday light, like from a light bulb, or sunlight , is made up of all the colors (wavelengths) of the spectrum (red, orange, Y,G,B,I,V). A blue shirt, for example, appears blue because the shirt REFLECTS back to your eyes ONLY blue color (wavelengths). Conversly, the shirt ABSORBS; red, orange,yellow,green,indigo and violet (Not blue). The wavelengths change when they hit your shirt and are converted to heat energy.
Consider a white shirt: The reason it's white is because it REFLECTS ALL the colors of the spectrum (all the colors = white). No absorption, no heat.
Black shirt: It's black because it absorbs ALL the colors (wavelgts). No colors reflect back to your eyes, thus it's a black shirt. All the wavelengths are converted to much heat.

Answer 3

Because white is a reflection of all of the colors at the same time, black is a reflection of none of the colors therefore absorbing all of them.

Answer 4

The light colors reflect and dark colors absorb.

Answer 5

the color white reflects all the colors of the spectrum an black adsorbs all the colors. colors being a form of radiation, wave lengths,contain energy. So white reflects radiation,heat ,an black absorbs radiation,heat.

Answer 6

White reflects light, black absorbs it, light is an energy.

Answer 7

There are three phenomena through which energy can be transmitted: electromagnetic radiation, conduction, and convection (see Heat Transfer). Unlike conduction and convection, electromagnetic waves need no material medium for transmission. Thus, light and radio waves can travel through interplanetary and interstellar space from the sun and stars to the earth. Regardless of the frequency, wavelength, or method of propagation, electromagnetic waves travel at a speed of 3 × 1010 cm (186,272 mi) per second in a vacuum. All the components of the electromagnetic spectrum, regardless of frequency, also have in common the typical properties of wave motion, including diffraction and interference. The wavelengths range from millionths of a centimeter to many kilometers. The wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic waves are important in determining heating effect, visibility, penetration, and other characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation.

Color, physical phenomenon of light or visual perception associated with the various wavelengths in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (see Electromagnetic Radiation; Spectrum). As a sensation experienced by humans and some animals, perception of color is a complex neurophysiological process. The methods used for color specification today belong to a technique known as colorimetry and consist of accurate scientific measurements based on the wavelengths of three primary colors.

Separation of White Light into Colored Light
Light from many sources, such as the Sun, appears white. When white light passes through a prism, however, it separates into a spectrum of different colors. The prism separates the light by refracting, or bending, light of different colors at different angles. Red light bends the least and violet light bends the most.
Encarta Encyclopedia
Corbis/Clayton J. Price

White light is composed of electromagnetic vibrations, the wavelengths of which are evenly distributed from 35 to 75 millionths of a centimeter (about 14 to 30 millionths of an inch). If the intensity of these vibrations is strong, the light is white; if the intensity is less, the light is grey; and if the intensity is zero, the light is nonexistent or black. Light composed of vibrations of a single wavelength in the visible spectrum differs qualitatively from light of another wavelength. This qualitative difference is perceived subjectively as hue. Light with a wavelength of 0.000075 cm (0.000030 in) is perceived as red, and light of 0.000035 cm (0.000014 in) wavelength is perceived as violet. The quality of the intermediate wavelengths is perceived as blue, green, yellow, or orange, moving from the wavelength of violet to that of red. See Wave Motion.

Answer 8

white reflects while black absorbs

Answer 9

Hi. White reflects more visible light whereas black does not reflect as much.

Answer 10

white reflects it whle black absorbs it. that is why when you wear dark or black clothes, it feels warm.