UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
Does the color inside a cup affect the change in temperature of its content?
Question Date: 2017-11-11
Answer 1:

There are several ways that heat can be transmitted, but in this case we're talking about light, so it's helpful to talk about radiative heat, which is transmitted through infrared radiation that is invisible to our eye. In the case of a visible color, the fact that a material has color means that the material is absorbing some colors of light.

However, in general, the color of something might not be as significant as the general material of an object. (For example, is it metal, is it plastic, is it wood?) In this case, a black styrofoam cup would keep a liquid hot much longer than a white metal cup.

However, if everything else were the same we could look at very small differences in temperature, and if the color of a cup led to the cup absorbing less (that is, reflecting more) infrared light from the water, it should keep the water longer for a little longer. This would be a good opportunity to do an experiment!



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use