On a hot sunny day....

why is the chrome fender of a white convertable car with its top down cooler to touch, than its dark red plastic seats?
Is it because the lighter the color is, the less heat is absorbed?

why id an asphalt sidewalk warmer to touch on a sunny day than a concrete sidewalk?
I don't know this one

Please help.

Yes, light colors reflect more heat than dark colors.

Asphalt sidewalks are black, right? And that's a dark color, right?

On a hot sunny day, the temperature of different surfaces can vary depending on their color and material. Let's break down your questions:

1. Why is the chrome fender of a white convertible car with its top down cooler to touch than its dark red plastic seats?
Yes, the lighter color of the chrome fender plays a role in it feeling cooler to the touch compared to the darker red plastic seats. Light colors tend to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than dark colors. When sunlight hits the chrome fender, a significant portion of it gets reflected back, preventing the fender from heating up as much as the seats. On the other hand, the dark red plastic seats absorb more sunlight, converting it into heat energy and making them feel warmer to the touch.

2. Why is an asphalt sidewalk warmer to touch on a sunny day than a concrete sidewalk?
The temperature difference between an asphalt sidewalk and a concrete sidewalk on a sunny day is due to differences in their thermal properties. Asphalt tends to absorb and retain more heat than concrete. Asphalt is a dark material that absorbs a significant amount of solar radiation, converting it into heat energy. As a result, the asphalt sidewalk becomes warmer and can radiate that heat, making it hotter to the touch. Concrete, on the other hand, has a lighter color and does not absorb as much sunlight, so it retains less heat and feels cooler to the touch.

When faced with similar questions, it's helpful to consider factors such as color, material properties (like reflectivity and absorbance), and the ability of different surfaces to retain or radiate heat. Additionally, understanding basic principles of thermodynamics, such as how light and heat interact with different surfaces, can provide insight into these temperature variations.