Purpose
In this experiment, you will compare the ability of different surfaces to radiate thermal energy.

Discussion
Does the color of a surface make a difference in how well it radiates thermal energy? If so, how? The answer to these questions could help you decide what color coffee pot will best keep its heat and what color might be used to radiate heat away from a computer chip. In this experiment, we will compare the thermal radiation ability of two surfaces: silver and black. We'll do this by filling cans with these surfaces with hot water, then letting the water cool down. We'll measure the temperature of the water in both cans while they're cooling down and see if there's a difference in the rate at which the temperatures decrease, or the heat transfer.