It's well-established in physics that black or dark-colored objects radiate heat faster and more effectively than light-colored objects.

So, in almost every building that uses steam heat, why are the radiators painted silver or some other very light color?

(In reply to Yet another guess by Aeternus)

I really don't knoe about that. I would assume that a wood-burning cast-iron stove (Such as a Franklin stove or a Pot-bellied stove) gets much hotter, and yet it is usually left black.

It is possible that the silver paint is just to make it stand out, so that you don't forget it is there and is very likely hot. But somehow I doubt that that's the answer Jim is looking for.

Posted by TomM on 2002-09-27 10:14:50