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Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours - Car Talk - Nairaland

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Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by autojosh: 6:15pm On Jun 28, 2019


If you have an inquisitive mind like I do, you might be wondering ; why most traffic lights have the colours red,yellow and green ; why most commercial passenger planes are painted white ; and why tyres are black.

These are not mere coincidences, and these colours were not chosen because they look “good”.
Let’s find out why these “standard” colours are used

Planes
Although very few planes(private and commercial) use other colours like black and blue, most planes make use of the colour white. There is a very reasonable explanation for this.
When planes fly in the sky, they are exposed to very large amounts of radiation and heat from the sun.White ( and other light colours) reflect heat and radiation, better than darker colours, but white is one of the colours that does this best.It helps airline companies save on cooling cost and also protects parts of the plane that can easily get damaged by heat or solar radiation.
You can experiment this phenomenon very simply at home on a sunny day, by trying on a white outfit, then a black outfit of similar material, trust me the difference would be very clear.You would feel cooler and sweat less in the white outfit.

Traffic Lights
From nursery school most of us have been taught that RED means stop, YELLOW means ready and GREEN means go!. We have adapted to these colours denoting their various meanings, but they have not always being this way.
There was a time when traffic lights were initially just red(stop) and white(go), they were primarily used for trains.Train drivers often mistook nearby or surrounding white lights from other sources as the “go” signal.This prompted a change.

Red was chosen as the stop sign/colour, because it has a higher wavelength, which means it can travel farther.Yellow has a shorter wavelength compared to red, but a longer wavelength compared to green.

Tyres
Very few people know this, but tyres have not always being black, they used to be white !. This is so because, the natural colour of rubber is white.
Because early tyres were very inefficient, they had a mileage of about 5000 miles, in the early 1900s scientist came up with a solution to add carbon black to tyres, this made them stronger and more durable, it also gave them the black colour.

Are you enlightened ?
Tell us what you think.

Don’t forget to rate and share.

By Donald3d

https://autojosh.com/planes-traffic-lights-tyres-find-out-why-they-have-standard-colours/

172 Likes 17 Shares

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Teewhy2: 9:58pm On Jun 28, 2019
Wawu good thinking, good product.
If left to African creativity, we would just be painting as our instincts tells us and no research on how to improve.
Just the way baba rofia will say I have been building houses before you are born and you can tell me how to lay blocks.
One way thinking

20 Likes 1 Share

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by somebars: 9:59pm On Jun 28, 2019
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by GIDIBANKZ(m): 10:00pm On Jun 28, 2019
Coza pastor

2 Likes

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by ZikZikZik: 10:00pm On Jun 28, 2019
I’m jejely waiting for the next COZA chapter to open pleasegrin

11 Likes

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Melison(m): 10:00pm On Jun 28, 2019
Spreads mat... waiting for lions

1 Like

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Engrjj: 10:00pm On Jun 28, 2019
Let me learn new things
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Tawis06(m): 10:01pm On Jun 28, 2019
interesting
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Mdaz(m): 10:01pm On Jun 28, 2019
Nice

1 Like

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by sulasa07(m): 10:02pm On Jun 28, 2019
autojosh:


If you have an inquisitive mind like I do, you might be wondering ; why most traffic lights have the colours red,yellow and green ; why most commercial passenger planes are painted white ; and why tyres are black.

These are not mere coincidences, and these colours were not chosen because they look “good”.
Let’s find out why these “standard” colours are used

Planes
Although very few planes(private and commercial) use other colours like black and blue, most planes make use of the colour white. There is a very reasonable explanation for this.
When planes fly in the sky, they are exposed to very large amounts of radiation and heat from the sun.White ( and other light colours) reflect heat and radiation, better than darker colours, but white is one of the colours that does this best.It helps airline companies save on cooling cost and also protects parts of the plane that can easily get damaged by heat or solar radiation.
You can experiment this phenomenon very simply at home on a sunny day, by trying on a white outfit, then a black outfit of similar material, trust me the difference would be very clear.You would feel cooler and sweat less in the white outfit.

Traffic Lights
From nursery school most of us have been taught that RED means stop, YELLOW means ready and GREEN means go!. We have adapted to these colours denoting their various meanings, but they have not always being this way.
There was a time when traffic lights were initially just red(stop) and white(go), they were primarily used for trains.Train drivers often mistook nearby or surrounding white lights from other sources as the “go” signal.This prompted a change.

Red was chosen as the stop sign/colour, because it has a higher wavelength, which means it can travel farther.Yellow has a shorter wavelength compared to red, but a longer wavelength compared to green.

Tyres
Very few people know this, but tyres have not always being black, they used to be white !. This is so because, the natural colour of rubber is white.
Because early tyres were very inefficient, they had a mileage of about 5000 miles, in the early 1900s scientist came up with a solution to add carbon black to tyres, this made them stronger and more durable, it also gave them the black colour.

Are you enlightened ?
Tell us what you think.

Don’t forget to rate and share.

By Donald3d

https://autojosh.com/planes-traffic-lights-tyres-find-out-why-they-have-standard-colours/

2 Likes

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by tunjilee003: 10:03pm On Jun 28, 2019
nice one,99% Nigerians don't know about these

4 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by dapsoneh: 10:04pm On Jun 28, 2019
Kindly stay away from this guy
He is a scammer

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by helinues: 10:04pm On Jun 28, 2019
Interesting
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by billionman: 10:05pm On Jun 28, 2019
Already knew facts 1 and 3. There are so many things around us we simply ignore. Inquisitive minds will always want to know why they are so. Nice one OP.

4 Likes

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by TheGiftedOne(m): 10:07pm On Jun 28, 2019
These are the type of FP worthy materials not Regina Daniels, Snakes and Slay queens. NL needs redemption and very fast.

6 Likes

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Ufedolove: 10:08pm On Jun 28, 2019
Why is Buhari the president of Nigeria?
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by DrChukki: 10:08pm On Jun 28, 2019
That's educating...... Thank you very much.

I know many people will not read this educating post because is not talking of rape

4 Likes

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Abudu2000(m): 10:10pm On Jun 28, 2019
I'm too busy rapping girls I don't have time for this.....






Pastor Biodun Coza

1 Like

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by rukoyah42(f): 10:11pm On Jun 28, 2019
Nice kiss
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by ShenTeh(m): 10:13pm On Jun 28, 2019
Very expository.

Many thanks autojosh
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by nnokwa042(m): 10:14pm On Jun 28, 2019
Teewhy2:
Wawu good thinking, good product.
If left to African creativity, we would just be painting as our instincts tells us and no research on how to improve.
Just the way baba rofia will say I have been building houses before you are born and you can tell me how to lay blocks.
One way thinking
yushina yukanai

1 Like

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by gift01: 10:15pm On Jun 28, 2019
Seun its time to sell Nairaland to a more capable management team. Today's event has made me reconsider visiting here

1 Like

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Fidelismaria: 10:21pm On Jun 28, 2019
tunjilee003:
nice one,99% Nigerians don't know about these

Speak for yourself

Obviously you ain't a science student cause if you are you would know these things

1 Like

Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by Dipville(m): 10:29pm On Jun 28, 2019
Lovely piece worthy of note
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by CarGuideNG: 10:30pm On Jun 28, 2019
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by macello4(m): 10:36pm On Jun 28, 2019
very inseaithful and impartful more strenth to ur iQ.
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by alezzy13: 10:36pm On Jun 28, 2019
Since white colour reflects heat better, why are Africans dark skin? That means theyll absorb all the heat
Re: Planes, Traffic Lights & Tyres : Find Out Why They Have “standard” Colours by AroOkigbo(m): 10:46pm On Jun 28, 2019
Kudos to Nairaland
not tonto
not regina
not COZA


Knowledge is power. grin
Nice one!

1 Like

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