White Shirt / Black Shirt - The Unscientific Survey

[Sonicfrog]

In the heat of summer.... as in now... which is better to wear for outside activities?

Note. I own and run my own pool service and spa repair company and work outdoors. When I would see someone walking around in a black shirt in the hight of summer here in Fresno (many days are 100 +) I thought they were crazy. But, me being me, I decided to see just how crazy they are, and started wearing black tee shirts out in the hot sumer sun while I'm working. Wouldn't you know it, I swear they actually keep me cooler than white ones do! Those ninjas are really on to something!!!!

Next phase of the experiment - to cut a black and a white shirt in half, sew the black and white halves together, and see / feel which side keeps me cooler.

Stay tuned!

[standupright]

[disp]

I believe the black absorbs UV rays more efficiently or something.

I remember from gradeschool that dessert nomads often wear a black undergarment with a white tunic over the top. Obviously, the thinner and more breathe-able the better. I'm thinking two standard issue tee-shirts would be too much material.

[MatticusMania]

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by disp

I remember from gradeschool that dessert nomads often wear a black undergarment with a white tunic over the top.

Mmm...I've never had dessert nomads before. I've had Colombian farmers, and they were delish - especially after filet mignon and a good red wine. Next time, I'll try a little nomad for dessert...

[vene-nemesis]

Correct me if im wrong but colors are only responsible for the radiant warmth transmission/reflection/absortion. If youre working outdoors you should be much more concerned about the fabric than the color of the shirt. Anyway proper fabric and white is clearly you best option from the thermodynamic stand point.

[kesslari]

And your scientific answer:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal.../283373a0.html

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by kesslari

And your scientific answer:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal.../283373a0.html

That scientific answer mentions moses within the first line... thats very scientific!

[blendermassacre]

The color black absorbs the suns rays, while white reflects all of them. Don't be a heat sponge.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

The color black absorbs the suns rays, while white reflects all of them. Don't be a heat sponge.

Ive known this since I was, like, 6 years old.

[kesslari]

Originally Posted by vene-nemesis

That scientific answer mentions moses within the first line... thats very scientific!

Read the rest of the article. It points to some good research. Fact is that most desert dwellers wear black, and live in black tents. If it was a stupid idea they'd be dead, or would have stopped a long time ago. Moses is probably the best "guy in the desert" analogy for most Americans, who would say "uh.. what's a bedouin? Everybody knows black absorbs heat, I learned that when I was like 6 years old..."

[Yerf Dog]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

The color black absorbs the suns rays, while white reflects all of them. Don't be a heat sponge.

Bingo!

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

The color black absorbs the suns rays, while white reflects all of them.

Well, certainly true with all visible light.

That's why we see black as black and white as white!


Just had a skim through the study listed, interesting, basically taking into account that multiple layers will dissipate the heat before it reaches the skin (as said, skimmed, I may have missed something else).

[blendermassacre]

I think the possible reason you're feeling cooler is because you're sweating more. You'll probably feel cooler, but end up more tired in the end.

[Radical Edward]

Sonicfrog, you have too much free time on your hands.

[TOOL460002]

i can tell you from freshman chemistry that color is the product of how much energy is absorbed by molecular bonds. in this case, i guess thats just the dye. it makes sense that if you start with two white shirts and dye one black that the black one has to absorb more energy.

if you want to stay cool, i suggest those quick dry type hiking/outdoor shirts from rei under whatever you want to wear. i have a black car with black leather seats that becomes a four wheeled oven after a few hours of exposure, and thats the only way to go for me.

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Read the rest of the article. It points to some good research. Fact is that most desert dwellers wear black, and live in black tents. If it was a stupid idea they'd be dead, or would have stopped a long time ago. Moses is probably the best "guy in the desert" analogy for most Americans, who would say "uh.. what's a bedouin? Everybody knows black absorbs heat, I learned that when I was like 6 years old..."

Yeah i was just being retarded, however as i said before the fact that they stay somehow fresh is much more related to the kind of fabric than the color of it. Absolutley noone would wear a neoprene suit on the desert even if it was white.

Once again the color only affects the way heat transfered by radiation is managed (absorbed or reflected). However desert is hot because the sand is hot and most of the heat you receive from it comes from convection heat transfer so the better you isolate from heat the fresher youll be.

[lunarpollen]

If it's just a single layer, just a solid fabric shirt in white or black, the black will definitely get hotter almost immediately. The fabric itself gets hot.

[mulchor]

Originally Posted by vene-nemesis

That scientific answer mentions moses within the first line... thats very scientific!

Pssst... the authors are from Tel Aviv University.

I think Abraham is more of a scientist than Moses (who was really more of an engineer), but regardless, it's not at all out of place to put that in the abstract. Especially in a Nature paper.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

You always want to have something in the abstract that grabs a readers interest