Q1.
Why is it more comfortable to wear white or light-coloured clothes during summers and dark-coloured clothes during winters?
Answer
Because light and dark surfaces behave differently towards the heat that falls on them.
- Light-coloured clothes reflect most of the heat that falls on them. Less heat enters the body, so we feel cooler and more comfortable in summer.
- Dark surfaces absorb more heat. More of the Sun's heat is taken in and kept close to the body, so we feel warmer and more comfortable in winter.
| Colour of clothing | What it does to heat falling on it | How we feel | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| White / light | Reflects most of it | Cooler | Summer |
| Black / dark | Absorbs most of it | Warmer | Winter |
Try This: on a sunny day, put one sheet of white paper and one sheet of black paper side by side in the Sun for ten minutes, then touch them. The black sheet is clearly warmer.