Overview

This project is intended to teach students how light energy can be converted into heat energy.  It is based on the following data:

• Light energy reflects off lighter (whiter) surfaces.
• Light energy is absorbed by darker surfaces and turned to heat energy.

Objectives

The objective has two parts:

• To build and successfully use a solar oven to melt a chocolate bar.
• To create a simple bar graph showing temperature change (Celcius) versus time (minutes).

Team

• Each team will have 2 to 4 members.
• Teams will decide how the work will be divided.

Timeline

• 2 classes to make & test the solar oven.

Tasks/Milestones

• Each group member will bring building material.
• Each group member will help in the construction of the oven.
• Each group member will make their own graph and hand it in.

Material

•       Pizza box
•       Ruler
•       Aluminum foil
•       Scissors
•       Masking/duct tape
•       Plastic wrap
•       Black construction paper
•       Thermometer
•       Drinking straw/wooden dowel
•       Chocolate bar
•       Oven mitts
•       Chart paper to record temperature changes every minute.

Safety note

•       High heat
•       Never look directly into the sun. Duh…

Directions

1.     Cut flap out of pizza box lid 3 cm from edge. Do not cut at back of lid.

2.     Bend flap back and attach aluminum foil with tape.

3.     Open entire lid and tape plastic wrap to inside of lid to seal opening.

4.     Line inside of box with aluminum foil completely, keeping foil free of wrinkles. Tape in place.

5.     Tape black construction paper to bottom of box (on top of foil).

6.     Place chocolate bar in box with thermometer.

7.     Prop the flap up at 90º with straw/wood dowel. Make small holes for dowel in flap and in box, making sure flap doesn’t slide down over dowel.

8.     Place solar over in direct sunlight.

9.     Record starting temperature.

10. Observe chocolate bar and record visible changes (include times).

11. Make a line graph to show changes in temperature changes.

12. Put your name and class number on graph and put it in the IN Box.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/solar.html#fromthesun

The sun is the source of most energy on earth, including energy from wind and waves. Unlike the earth, the sun is not a solid--instead, it is a huge ball of gas, composed mainly of hydrogen. Every second, tons of hydrogen in the sun's core are converted through nuclear fusion into helium and energy. As the hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form helium molecules, huge amounts of energy are released. You can use this energy to heat up a tasty treat with this simple solar oven!

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/articles/build-a-solar-oven-project.html