Question:
why do people think it's bad to wear black clothing in hot weather?
anonymous
2009-06-25 09:05:53 UTC
for years I thought that black clothing attracted the suns' rays and so made you hotter, so it was better to wear white which reflected it.

once when it was quite hot and I was wearing a black cardigan, I mentioned this to my friend to which he replied I was wrong and that black is a better colour to wear in hot weather. he mentioned that Sahara desert nomads wear black..

can someone explain this to me please? he didn't really go into it too much and was a bit of a big-headed prick about the whole thing.

thanks :D
Six answers:
pzifisssh
2009-06-25 09:25:11 UTC
If you are going to stand in BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, and you have a choice between two outer garments, one black, the other white, but otherwise identical, then you will be warmer wearing the black one.



Black doesn't "attract" the sun's rays, it ABSORBS them (i.e., it converts the sunlight to heat.) White absorbs less, and reflects more. I don't know how much more exactly, but it's definitely enough to make a difference.



Of course, There's a lot of other factors besides just the color. What's going to keep you cooler in the burning desert? A black tee shirt and shorts? or a white parka and snow pants?



Also, the amount of the difference beetween black and white can depend on various facgtors. There'll be a huge difference between wearing a black leotard and a white leotard because the fabric which absorbs the heat is in close contact with your skin. On the other hand, the difference between a black or a white loose-fitting robe will not be nearly so much because air can circulate underneath and carry much of the heat away.



Umair,



The fact that black bodies are more efficient radiators than white bodies is not so relevant. We get rid of most of the heat of our bodies by evaporation (sweat), and by convection (air movement). Radiation plays a minimal role in getting rid of heat---we just aren't hot enough to radiate much energy. The surface of the sun, on the other hand is 5000 degrees, and *ALL* of the energy that we absorb from the sun, we absorb from its radiation. So, the color that we wear makes a big difference in how much heat we absorb, but only a tiny difference in how much we radiate back out.
mesta
2017-01-20 12:33:23 UTC
Is Black Clothing Hotter
?
2016-05-25 03:50:33 UTC
Top- Tank or short sleeved. Don't wear dark colors. Bottoms- Wear shorts or light colored capris Shoes- Flip flops/sandals or since you're going to be at an amusement park maybe some light tennis shoes Hair- Wear it in a bun or ponytail. If you have short hair pin it back with a bobby pin. Try not to wear a lot of jewelry. Have fun!
fishineasy™
2009-06-25 10:02:05 UTC
Your friend is not right. With roofs, cars and clothing always choose white in the sun. It reflects the suns rays and black absorbs them.



nfd♥
?
2009-06-25 10:19:47 UTC
Let me just say I am so much cooler in this hot azz Florida sun by being the Man in White not Man in Black....lol
Umair
2009-06-25 09:13:54 UTC
Actually,

black colour is a good absorber of heat, means its gets hot quickly...

But, its is also a good emitter of heat, means it also loses its heat quickly...



Whereas white colour is a bad absorber and emitter of heat...


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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