Does color affect melting rate?

Question

I want to know if because something is white, it has the ability to melt faster than the same thing of another color. Or maybe vice versa :)

Answer 1

It depends on where the heat is coming from. Dark colors, such as black, absorb more light, than light colors, such as white, so if the heat is coming from the sun, a lamp, or some other source of light a dark object will heat faster than an object lighter than it. However, this only applies to light. If you were, to say, microwave dark blue water and clear water, they would both heat at the same speed.

Answer 2

Yes, color does affect the rate of melting. The darker the color the more heat an light are absorbed and used to melt. The lighter the color the more heat and light are being reflected away from the melting. Black is best, it absorbs all, white is worst, it reflects all.

Answer 3

When we see a color, we are actually seeing what is reflected. That is, the piece of plastic, glass, foil, cloth, etc. is absorbing all the other colors but reflecting the color we see.

Something that is white absorbs nothing in the visible spectrum. That is, all colors are reflected and appear white to our eyes. Black, however, absorbs all colors. As black absorbs everything (hence the lack of light or color), it will be "hotter". In the summer, often it is recommended to wear white clothing as this reflects the light, while black clothing absorbs the light. Light is energy that can be turned to heat. So if something absorbs light, it is warmer.

Therefore, if you put two ice cubes out in the sun, but one on a white cloth and another on a black cloth, the cube on the black cloth will melt faster.

If you want to see which colors melt the ice faster, just repeat the experiment using a yellow, blue, or red cloth. :-) My $ is on the red.

How fast are

Answer 4

Darker colors absorb more sunlight than light colors. So you can melt ice on a cold but sunny day by coloring it black somehow, maybe by spreading powered charcoal over it.

Answer 5

colors in the route of the blue-purple end of the spectrum are better potential. hence, i ought to anticipate that they melt swifter. regardless of the indisputable fact that, infrared mild, which transmits thermal potential all proper (and is low wavelength), should be absorbed better effective via the water. So, the wavelengths on that end of the spectrum (purple, orange, yellow, etc.) ought to soften the ice swifter because they're quite absorbed.