Ms. Gordon's class is studying radiation. They covered plastic cups with black construction paper or white construction paper. They filed the cups with water that was C. They placed the cups of water in the sun and recorded the temperature of the water every 15 minutes. The student data can be seen in the graph above.

Question

Mary and Alice were collecting the data for the class. Both girls were wearing white T-shirts. Billy came out to help them; he was wearing a dark navy T-shirt. "Boy, it is really hot out here," exclaimed Billy. The girls said they were not hot at all. Using the student experiment and the collected data, elaborate on the reason for the students' comments.
Responses

A White T-shirts reflect sunlight. Black T-shirts do not.White T-shirts reflect sunlight. Black T-shirts do not.

B White T-shirts did not absorb as much sunlight as dark T-shirts.White T-shirts did not absorb as much sunlight as dark T-shirts.

C Dark T-shirts are heavier than white T-shirts so Billy felt hotter than the girls.Dark T-shirts are heavier than white T-shirts so Billy felt hotter than the girls.

D The girls had been outside in the sun for an hour and the heat did not bother them.

Answer 1

The most appropriate response based on the experiment and the situation described is:

B White T-shirts did not absorb as much sunlight as dark T-shirts. White T-shirts did not absorb as much sunlight as dark T-shirts.

This response explains the difference in sensation between Billy and the girls. Billy's dark navy T-shirt absorbed more sunlight and heat, making him feel hotter, while the girls' white T-shirts reflected more sunlight, keeping them cooler. This aligns with the concepts of radiation and absorption covered in their class.