DIY Solar Oven
SCIENCE PROJECT
What You Need:
Cardboard pizza box Clear tape Newspapers
Box knife or scissors Plastic wrap Ruler or wooden spoon
Aluminum foil Black construction paper Thermometer
What You Do:
1. Use a box knife or sharp scissors to cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box. Cut
along three sides, leaving about an inch between the sides of the flap and
the edges of the lid. Fold this flap out so that it stands up when the box lid
is closed.
2. Cover the inner side of the flap with aluminum foil so that it will reflect rays
from the sun. To do this, tightly wrap foil around the flap, then tape it to
the back, or outer side of the flap.
3. Use clear plastic wrap to create an airtight window for sunlight to enter
into the box. Do this by opening the box and taping a double layer of
plastic wrap over the opening you made when you cut the flap in the lid.
Leave about an inch of plastic overlap around the sides and tape each side
down securely, sealing out air. If you use a plastic bag, cut out a square big
enough to cover the opening, and tape one layer over the opening.
4. Line the bottom of the box with black construction paper—black absorbs
heat. The black surface is where your food will be set to cook. How much
you need will depend on the size of the pizza box you’re using to make
your solar oven.
5. To insulate your oven so it holds in more heat, roll up sheets of newspaper
and place them on the bottom of the box. Tape them down so that they
form a border around the cooking area. It may be helpful to also tape the
rolls closed first. The newspaper rolls should make it so that the lid can still
close, but there is a seal inside of the box, so air cannot escape.
6. The best hours to set up your solar oven are when the sun is high
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overhead—from 11 am to 3 pm. Take it outside to a sunny spot and adjust
SOLAR OVEN - CONTINUED
6. The best hours to set up your solar oven are when the sun is high overhead
—from 11 am to 3 pm. Take it outside to a sunny spot and adjust the flap
until the most sunlight possible is reflecting off the aluminum foil and
onto the plastic-covered window. Use a ruler to prop the flap at the right
angle. You may want to angle the entire box by using a rolled up
7. You can make toast by buttering a slice of bread then letting the sun do
the rest. Cooking a hot dog or making nachos with chips and cheese are
also fun treats to make in your solar oven! It would also work great to heat
up leftovers. So the paper at the bottom doesn’t get dirty, put what you
would like to cook on a clear plastic or glass plate. A pie plate would work
well. Place the thermometer inside your oven before you close it, so you
can check the temperature.
8. To take food out of the oven, open up the lid of the pizza box, and using
oven mitts or potholders, lift the glass dish out of the oven.
What Happened:
The heat from the Sun is trapped inside of your pizza box solar oven, and it starts
getting very hot. Ovens like this one are called collector boxes because they
collect the sunlight inside. As it sits out in the Sun, your oven eventually heats up
enough to melt cheese, or cook food.
How does it happen? Rays of light are coming to the Earth at an angle. The foil
reflects the ray and bounces it directly into the opening of the box. Once it has
gone through the plastic wrap, it heats up the air that is trapped inside. The black
paper absorbs the heat at the bottom of the oven, and the newspaper makes
sure that the heat stays where it is, instead of escaping out the sides of the oven.
Your pizza box solar oven can reach about 200° F on a sunny day and will take
longer to heat things than a conventional oven. Although this method will take
longer, it is very easy to use, and it is safe to leave alone while the energy from the
Sun cooks your food.
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