July 13, 2005
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Why is it that things are darker when they are wet? I've been wondering about this lately. Hair is darker when it's wet. When fabric gets wet, it generally gets darker. Paint usually dries lighter than when it's wet. Why is this?
I know it has something to do with the water molecules in between the object's own material. Perhaps something to do with refraction? But I just really have no idea what the actual cause of the discoloration would be. Especially the darkening. It would seem more logical that there would a shift of some sort as the water refracted some wavelengths differently and thus changed the color, but that doesn't happen. Why does it get darker?
I was hoping some of the physics nerds would be able to provide an explanation (Jonathan especially, but also perhaps Sarah or Daniel... any ideas?).
Posted at July 13, 2005 7:47 PM | Comments (5)
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Um, were you high when you posted this? Cuz that is totally a pot-thought.
Posted by: Hookerface Moran at July 13, 2005 11:05 PM
OH, OH, I GOT THIS ONE! (somehow)
When waves pass through mediums of differing densities, there is a certain percentage of energy reflected and transmitted. (Have you noticed that wet things also tend to have a reflective property?) So, light loses some energy every time it tries to pass from air to water and back.
I'll look up the transmission/reflection equation when I get home :)
Posted by: Daniel at July 14, 2005 12:44 AM
it's because you touch yourself at night.
Posted by: sarahthustra at July 14, 2005 11:15 AM
Actually, Sarah, that would make the hair on your palms darker. :)
Posted by: Jeff at July 14, 2005 1:28 PM
Hey David, hair gets darker when wet because the hair sticks closer together. At least that's what I think.
By the way, I know my main site is broken for now, I'm working on designing it before I upload it to the server.
For now the /blog will do.
Posted by: Wilt at July 14, 2005 5:43 PM
