How to Cook a Hot Dog With a Light Bulb

Hot dogs can be cooked using the heat generated from a light bulb.

With a few household items and some time, just about anyone can cook a hot dog using a light bulb as the heat source. This process works because light hits the foil and heats up, providing heat both from the light and from the reflection. A common variation of the project is using the sun rather than a light bulb to cook the hot dog.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard box
• Aluminum foil
• Pencil
• Glue or tape
• Knife or scissors
• Small lamp with light bulb
• Coat hanger or skewer
• Hot dog

Instructions

1. Sketch the outline of mirroring curves into the longest sides of the cardboard box (a shoebox works well for this project). The deepest part of the curve should drop about an inch or two into the box and curve upward to the sides.

2. Cut the curved section out of the box using a knife or scissors. Try to keep the sides as uniform as possible.

3. Wrap the box in aluminum foil. Heavy-duty foil works best; wrap the box several times if the open area of the box seems weak. Try to keep the foil as smooth as possible.

4. Cut two pieces of the leftover cardboard into 3-by-3 inch squares.

5. Attach a cardboard square using tape to each of the longest sides of the box in the center of that side. Make sure the squares a secured tightly using tape or glue.

6. Position the lamp with the light turned on so that a bright spot appears on the foil between the cardboard squares.

7. Poke a skewer or coat hanger through the cardboard squares.

8. Remove the skewer, add a hot dog to it and poke it back though the cardboard squares. Watch as the hot dog cooks under the light.

References

• "Solar Energy Project;" U.S. Department of Energy; 1995
• California Energy Commission: Energy Quest; Science Projects: Solar Hot Dog Cooker; 2006