If black absorbs light and gets hotter, and white reflects light, then...?

Question

If black absorbs light and gets hotter, and white reflects light, then will aluminum foil keep the coolest?

If I have a black car, I know painting it white will make it get less hot. Will covering it with tinfoil keep it even cooler than white?

Answer 1

It wouldnt really be "white". True black would mean opaque to light. It absorbs everything. The oppisite of black, would be a mirror. And you can shine light at a perfect mirror all day and it doesnt get hot or cold, it just reflects light like it supposed to.
Aluminum foil covering would reflect a lot of light yes... you nutter! You can't pick up chicks with car covered in foil!

Answer 2

The answers to your questions about colours are right in theory, but chroming your entire car still won't keep it cool Why? Because of the windows! If you leave the windows closed, and allow light to come into the car and heat up the fabric and other materials, the air temperature will rise. Most of the heat is coming through the windows, not the body panels. Try cracking a window when your car is parked. It'll do wonders.

Answer 3

To be precise, black is the most efficient absorber (and emitter) of thermal radiation. White is less efficient. Aluminum is most reflective (ie absorbs least).

So on a hot day, yes, the aluminum is probably a bit better than white paint.

Note: If you are concerbed about radiation of heat rather than absorption, the roles are reversed. A black radiator cools your engine best.

Answer 4

Wrap your car in foil and find out. We'll be lookinhg out for your updates.

Answer 5

Yep that is why ice keeps the earth cooler and soil heats it up, causing more ice to melt. Its a chain reaction and global warming will kill up all. JK, but really.

Answer 6

Yes.