If a polar bear's skin is really black, and the fur is actually clear, why does the fur appear to be white?
2007-06-06 08:14:40 · 5 answers · asked by RavynRIOT™ 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
It is true what the others have said about the light reflecting. But, an easier way to think about this - think about a straw. If you have one straw, it appears clear. But when you put a bunch of straws together, they appear white.
The reason for this is so that sunlight (heat) can penetrate the hair, get to the black skin which absorbs the heat. The hair then acts again as a trapping mechanism, trapping heat against the skin.
2007-06-06 14:43:51 · answer #1 · answered by cbbfish 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The hair of a polar bear looks white because the air spaces in each hair scatter light of all colors. The color white becomes visible to our eyes when an object reflects back all of the visible wavelengths of light, rather than absorbing some of the wavelengths.
At one time it was suggested that the polar bear hairs might have some of the properties of optical fibers. Apparently this is not the case.
2007-06-06 08:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by Beer Farts 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct that their skin is black and their hair is clear... bravo, not too many people know that.
As far as how it makes them look white. The hair is actually clear hollow tubes and when the light hits the tubes some of the light is absorbed and some bounces off causing the bear to look white. All has to do with the light spectrum and the way light is absorbed/reflected.
Kinda like why the grass looks green and they sky looks blue. Same principle more or less.
2007-06-06 14:40:17 · answer #3 · answered by The Cheshire 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's the way they back comb it!
They spend hours in front of the mirror.
2007-06-06 08:18:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear
It is a matter of what reflects off the transparent hairs.
2007-06-06 08:18:20 · answer #5 · answered by Atheist Geek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋