Final answer:
The heat felt inside a dark-colored tent during a daytime circus is due to the tent absorbing sunlight and emitting infrared radiation. Dark colors are better at absorbing sunlight, which causes the material to heat up and radiate warmth to the surrounding area.
Step-by-step explanation:
When watching a daytime circus in a large, dark-colored tent, the sensation of significant heat transfer is due to the tent material absorbing sunlight and emitting infrared radiation. Dark colors absorb more sunlight, leading to a higher temperature of the material, which then radiates heat to the surrounding environment. This type of heat transfer via emission of infrared radiation is particularly potent in dark-colored materials under direct sunlight. On the other hand, a white tent would reflect more sunlight and thereby reduce the temperature inside and the heat transferred to observers within.