Measuring the absorbance of infrared by different surfaces
Use an infrared heater with two metal plates painted with different paints, attach a drawn pin with Vaseline on each plate, switch on the heater and time the temperature increase, record the time it takes for the drawn pin to fall off
Matte black surface emits the most infrared radiation, followed by shiny black surface, white surface, and shiny metallic surface emits the least infrared radiation
Lesley's cube surfaces
Shiny metallic surface
White surface
Shiny black surface
Matte black surface
Investigating how much infrared radiation is absorbed or radiated by different surfaces
Fill Lesley's cube with hot water, point an infrared detector at each of the four surfaces, record the amount of infrared emitted, keep the same distance between the Lesley's cube and the infrared detector for repeatability
Matte black surfaces absorb more infrared than shiny metallic surfaces
Matte black surfaces
Are better at emitting and absorbing infrared compared to shiny metallic surfaces
Using a thermometer to measure absorbance of infrared may have lower resolution compared to an infrared detector
