| mdxforever |
We all know the famous school experiment where we put a black and a white colored object in the sun and see how the black object heats up more than the white. This is true for heat produced as a result of radiation(sunlight in this case) but is it true for convection and conduction heat also ?
For example, if I would put the same black and white colored objects in a dark room with some form of heat source will I see the same result ? i.e. will the black object be hotter than white ?
I could not readily find an answer but I have reason to believe it will. I took two small pieces of white pvc pipe, and coated one of them black. Turned on the gas stove and let it run for a minute or so till the area heated up. The pipes were still away from the stove. Then I turned off the stove and brought the two pieces of pvc pipe close to the burner which is still hot because it was just turned off. Both are at equal distance from the burner. After a few seconds I take them away. Upon touching them I find that the black coated one is way warmer than the white.
Why am I doing this futile exercise ?
Well, as you all know, all stock air-intakes are black in color.
I imagine this would raise the temperature of the air because of the heat that it readily absorbs(being black) from the engine room. A white or shining pipe would reflect all that heat and help decrease the temperature of the incoming air.
Just my theory. I have no facts to support this(except my little kitchen experiment). but ofcourse the fact that all aftermarket intakes are shiny.
Anybody with a OBD reader willing to paint their intake white and see if the intake air temperature dropped or not :) ? |
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| Warzau |
I think the color deals more with a light source than a heat source.
Under the hood IMHO it would be more a issue of material and gauge of said material and it resistance or transfer of heat, than color. |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by Warzau
I think the color deals more with a light source than a heat source.
Under the hood IMHO it would be more a issue of material and gauge of said material and it resistance or transfer of heat, than color.
Thermodynamics was never my best subject, but to the best of my knowledge what you say is correct. Black vs white heat absorbtion is basically a radiation phonomonem.
G |
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| mdxforever |
and that's what I thought too, but the 'test' confused me. Maybe it was the black coating material that heated up. In hindsight I think I should have used a black colored pvc pipe versus a white colored one, instead of coating the other.
I will post again if I get encouraging results...;) |
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| Sooner in FL |
You have way too much time on your hands.
Your test is flawed because you added another, the painted black pvc pipe. The layer of paint could act as an insulator. Try painting it white, red, or fusion and you will probably get the same results.
You second example of using black pvc and white pvc is a better choice and probably both pipes will have the same temp.
Would a few degrees make a whole lot of difference in a stock MDX that you can actually tell? I really doubt you can tell any difference.
But HEY:crazyeye: Who am I to say what you do with your spare time. |
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| DaleB |
Get two identical vehicles, one white and one black. Parked next to each other, or relatively close and in the same orientation.
Toss a thermometer into each one (and away from direct sunlight).
Maybe Super Tech or Tim can do this on the dealer's car lot. :) |
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| SuperTech |
If I ever reach that level of boredom at the shop, and assuming I didn't just go home...I'm gonna go out on the lot and have the white MDX run me over then the black one so I can see if the white one weighs more because the reflective force is making it push down/away from the sky more.
In other words, uh...I've got better things to do. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperTech
If I ever reach that level of boredom at the shop, and assuming I didn't just go home...I'm gonna go out on the lot and have the white MDX run me over then the black one so I can see if the white one weighs more because the reflective force is making it push down/away from the sky more.
In other words, uh...I've got better things to do.
Maybe Tim would be more accommodating.
That should ony take a minute to toss a couple of thermomters in there. Not looking for pin point accuracy, although to keep the test less biased, it should be done twice. Swapping the thermometers for consistency.
Just don't run yourself over before giving us the results. :D |
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