Search for Science Fair Projects

1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Heat (Thermodynamics) Science Fair Project

Wall Color and Indoor Temperature

Medium
Wall Color and Indoor Temperature | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Does the color of a building's walls change the temperature inside? You paint five identical cardboard boxes in different colors: black, white, grey, red, and green. After the paint dries, you seal each box and insert a thermometer through a small hole in the top. Then you place all five boxes in direct sunlight. Every ten minutes for one hour, you record the temperature inside each box. The dark black box heats up the most. The white box stays the coolest.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that black and darker colored buildings will have warmer indoor temperatures compared to white and lighter colored buildings.

Method & Materials

You will paint five boxes different colors, seal them, and measure the temperature inside each one.
You will need cardboard boxes, paint, paint brushes, thermometers, scotch tape, and Play Doh.

MEL Physicshands-on physics experiment kits delivered monthly — real experiments, not just reading. (Affiliate link)

See whats included

Results

The experiment showed that the black box had the highest temperature inside and the white box had the lowest temperature. The color of the walls on our houses can help reduce the temperature in our homes.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it shows how the color of a building can affect the temperature inside.

Also Consider

Variations to consider include using shiny/glossy/reflective paint versus dull/matt colored paint, and using different colors and different materials such as plastic or metal containers.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related video

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Share this Science Project:

Related Science Fair Project Ideas

Water Temperature and Convection
Drop food coloring into three jars of different temperature water and watch the color spread at wildly different speeds.
Medium
Wood Type and Burning Temperature
Burn equal pieces of oak, maple, cedar, and pine under water to discover which wood type produces the most heat.
Medium
Surface Area, Heat, and Wind in Evaporation
Compare water in a wide plate versus a narrow glass, sun versus shade, and fan versus still air to see what speeds up evaporation.
Medium
Share this Science Project: