down with black t-shirts

[ChrisH]

Whether something gets hot in the sun or not depends on the ratio of its emmisivity to its absorptivity. The emmisivity is a measure of the ability to radiate energy. The absorptivity is a measure of the ability to absorb energy via radiation. If it absorbs better than it emits and there is a source of radiant energy it will be hotter than the environment. If it emits better than it absorbs it will be the same temperature as the environment, because other methods of heat transfer will make sure of that.

For you REALLY technical types I'm assuming steady state here.

For most things emissivity and absorptivity are assumed to be close to the same. There are special applications where materials are deliberately modified to improve one or the other. They are definitely not dependent on color, though if you're trying to push things one way or the other the materials used can do that for you. (ie it's really hard to make white paint that's loaded with carbon black).

I don't know that anybody has ever measured the relative emissivity and absorptivity of a tee-shirt, let alone a black one. But it might be an interesting experiment. (meaning the results might surprise you) Science fair anyone?

We had the same argument last year. I'm told our school has finally chosen school colors (by executive fiat I think) and we will be using those this year. The bad feelings from last year were a major, though not the only, driver for this.

Two years ago we had gray shirts. When I took a picture of the crowd at Nationals we were easy to find. We were the dull spot way up on the right side. But teams in black didn't show up all that well either.

I've been waiting for a year to try and explain this to someone.

ChrisH

[evulish]

Heh. One layer of black shirt is fine. I wore my Dickies work short (team shirt), a heavy yellow or blue tee under it, then a beater as an undershirt. I was fine Wimps...sheesh

IMO, black is nice, provided you have a nice design. A bright color and large, noticeable design is a MUST!!! Something unique...

[dixonij]

Our shirts are black with red and yellow flames at the top. They were never to hot for our team members. (maybe it has something to do with our team mascot, the Devil? who knows?) anyway, our shirts stand out. People know team 87/Diablo/RVR is in the house because of our shirts.

[mpking]

Try Tye-dye, and just use all the colors. :-)

Well, between us, Wildstang, and the X-cat's, it might be hard to find your own Tye-dye design (We are all very destintive)

We manage to tye dye everything. Shirts, short's, labcoats, socks, headbands, we even do our robot in the off season. :-)

http://www.tj2.org/2002/imagepages/p4260241.html

http://www.tj2.org/2001/imagepages/phaneuf.html

We also have our "Dress Blue" shirts. These are usually worn at event's like when we visit the Statehouse, Friday compeition day, or events where we have to look slightly spiffier.

http://www.tj2.org/2001/imagepages/mrscalefandmoe.html


Besides, Blue shows up better than White. :-)

http://www.tj2.org/1996/imagepages/96hamp11.html

I do have to warn you. You have to practice alot with Tye-dye to get it right. (Unless you have someone Make your shirts) We've always hand Tye-dye'd our stuff.

Here is probably the only picture you will find of our First Tye-dye shirts. We've had Tye-dye every year we've been in the compeition.
http://www.tj2.org/1996/imagepages/playerstation.html

Took us till around 1998 to get it right.

[Alex Forest]

well...we just got black t-shirts...and they were quite popular at deleware...everyone was trying to steal them from us and offering us all sorts of cool things... actually they are black and blue. very pretty.

[Johca_Gaorl]

Originally posted by Alex Forest
well...we just got black t-shirts...and they were quite popular at deleware...everyone was trying to steal them from us and offering us all sorts of cool things... actually they are black and blue. very pretty.

It's Delaware! WITH AN A! Jeez. Actually I did get a lot of compliments on our shirts, they were popular I'll try and get a pic up later.

[dixonij]

like your shirts (you have the same style as ours just with blue flames instead of the yellow/red ones we have) if you really want to stand out, use neon colors (i.e. MOE's bright green soccer jerseys) or bright colors.

[evulish]

Auhg...I bot one of those cool Duel on the Delaware shirts and it was taken/lost/misplaced or something. So I went and got another one. Sheesh. 20 bucks for a shirt :/

[Alex Forest]

20 bucks? really? i got one that said "crew" on the back and it only cost me 10... *grin*

[Amber H.]

If you are really concerned about your team-mates getting overheated: try calling up Rose City Textiles in Portland Oregon and have them send you some swatches of whatever they have in black for different ventilating meshes (not as see through as it sounds) or a fabric they list as COOLMAXtm. Some of the sports fabrics they carry have a nice lumincecsent quality when under certain kinds of lights and would look really cool. There are weaves and knits that will appear flat black, but reflect different colors when you move and light hits them from different angles. Some will even have a subtle to mor obvious sparkle to them.
You can purchase the fabric in bulk really cheap if you can order it through your school (non-profit, business type customer rating). Then get somebody's mom who can sew to make them for you. Makin T-shirts is basic quick work. I know a woman out in Utah who might do it for you.

Er...wait a minute. You're out here on the east coast. Send it to me and I'll do it for five bucks a shirt plus shipping. (unless of course you have like eighty team members. That might be hard)

If all else fails with the black; I haven't noticed any teams that wear a lovely pale pink! JK!

[srawls]

If all else fails with the black; I haven't noticed any teams that wear a lovely pale pink!

You haven't seen the Space Coast team have you? They wear buttons that say 'Real Men Wear Pink'

And yes ... they do wear pink

Stephen

[ChrisH]

Actually there is a team that wears florecscent pink. They have Think Pink as their slogan and the guys have shirts that say "real Men Wear PINK". I think they are from Florida.

I forget their number though.

I think Miss Tree is right about the "lovely pale pink" though. Such a color might acutally stand out at Nationals, it being so much more subdued than what everyone else is wearing.

ChrisH

[Johca_Gaorl]

Originally posted by ChrisH
Whether something gets hot in the sun or not depends on the ratio of its emmisivity to its absorptivity.

Only on here

[Melancholy]

i haven't posted in a while... much school work... anyways...

White is a bad idea for the girls when they start handing out FIRST water. But, black is really bad if you're going to Nationals. Go for grey.

"TBD, USA" ... if Nationals is held in Florida, that is...

[evulish]

Originally posted by Alex Forest
20 bucks? really? i got one that said "crew" on the back and it only cost me 10... *grin*

Well...I meant it to show that I bought 2 shirts for $10 each :/