How to Make a Solar Powered Oven Science Project
Solar powered ovens convert heat and energy from the sun and use it to heat foods placed inside the solar cooker. Once students have learned about solar energy, create a solar powered oven to demonstrate the effectiveness of solar powered energy and how solar ovens can effectively heat and reheat small food portions. Compare the effectiveness of solar powered ovens by placing them in various locations, time or day or under different weather conditions.
Solar powered ovens are appropriate for school science projects, scout meeting activities, and for use when camping.
Things You'll Need
- Clean pizza box
- Utility knife
- Aluminum foil
- Tape
- Stretch wrap or plastic wrap
- Black paper
- Stick
- Paper plate
- Food
Instructions
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Make the Solar Oven
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1
Cut a flap into the center of the pizza box lid, cutting only three sides. Leave at least one inch around each side of the pizza box lid. Bend the flap back so it can easily be adjusted.
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2
Place aluminum foil around the inside pizza box flap; use tape to secure if necessary.
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3
Open the pizza box lid and tape two layers of stretch wrap across the opening in the pizza box lid. Secure the stretch wrap along all the edges to seal out the air. In the final project the stretch wrap will work as a window to see food cooking inside and protect the food from the outside elements.
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4
Cover the entire inside base of the pizza box with aluminum foil, tape as necessary. Tape the black paper to the bottom of the pizza box. The solar oven is now ready for the experiment.
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5
Lift the lid to the pizza box and place a paper plate of food on top of the black paper. Close the pizza box lid, and prop open the flap with the stick to allow sunlight to enter the solar oven. Adjust the flap angle as necessary to direct the reflected light from the foil-wrapped flap into the solar cooker.
Cook Food
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6
Preheat the solar oven by placing it in a sunny location for 20 to 40 minutes.
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7
Place a simple food object, such as leftover pizza, into the solar oven, or prepare a recipe found at SolarOvens.org (see Resources).
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8
Observe the food inside the solar cooker and note how long it takes for the recipe to finish cooking.
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9
Retest the same recipe on a different day under different outside temperatures or weather conditions. Consider making two solar ovens and cooking the same food with one solar oven placed in a sunny location and another set in the shade; make predictions as to which solar cooker will heat the food best and what conditions are best for solar cookers.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Instead of preparing a complicated recipe, record how long it takes for a slice of mozzarella cheese to melt over a sliced tomato.
Solar powered ovens only work when placed in the sun; don’t try to use a solar cooker on a cloudy day or in shady location.
According to HomeTrainingTools.com, solar ovens may become as hot as 200 degrees on a warm sunny day.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
