Cooking with the Sun
(Adapted from NASA.gov)
Could Humans Live of the Moon?
Use the following link to watch the video “Living on the Moon”
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?10515
(It is the second video on the page)
If we were to establish a habitat on the moon for research, we would have to bring just about everything we needed with
us. The moon has no atmosphere, no weather or climate, and very little resources. All of the things the moon lacks, actually make it
the ideal place to collect and use solar energy. The sun will not be blocked by clouds, or scattered by the atmosphere! The only time
that the sun wouldn’t be out during a lunar day would be during rare lunar eclipses. If we were able to capture even a small portion
of this sunlight, we could use it to power our entire habitat, including that very important device that allows us to cook our food-an
oven!!!!
Pre-lab Questions
1. The moon is not the only place that a solar cooker could come in handy. Describe two situations in which a solar cooker
would be useful here on Earth.
2. What are the 3 mechanisms of heat transfer that we learned about in class? Make sure to define each one.
3. Explain the role that each mechanism of heat transfer will play in our solar cookers.
4. What are 3 things that can happen to radiation when it strikes an object? Which do you think is most important in solar
cooking?
The Challenge
Your mission is to design and build a solar oven to cook marshmallows using cardboard and other simple materials.
Rules:
It must have a footprint no larger than 40 cm x 40 cm
It must use one of the Plexiglass sheets provided
Your food may not touch the oven directly
You may use any available materials and designs as long as these rules are followed.
If we are inside, everybody must cook with a 100W lamp at the same distance from the solar cooker.
Background Information
To help you get started, look at this graph and answer the questions below.
Title: The temperature change of 3 solar cookers in 15 minutes
A
B
C
5.
6.
7.
8.
These lines represent
the heating rate of 3
different solar cookers.
One was just an empty
box, one was a box with
a black bottom, and one
was a box with a black
and aluminum foil
bottom.
Which line do you think represents the empty box? Why?
Which line do you think represents the box with a black bottom and aluminum foil? Why?
What is the purpose of the black bottom? (Think of your answer to question 4 in the pre-lab)
What is the purpose of the aluminum foil? (Think of your answer to question 4 in the pre-lab)
The Design
9. Draw a diagram of your design. In your diagram make sure that all materials are labeled, and make sure that you show how
you will make your marshmallows not touch the box.
Recording your Results
You will be conducting the experiment. You will be measuring the temperature change inside your box each minute for 10
minutes. Below your answer to question number 9, create a “Results” section. It is in this section that you will create your data table.
Label the table, Data Table 1 and give it a detailed title. This table will be where you record temperature change each minute. Make
sure to think about your data table first. It must look organized!
The Experiment
Once your data table is constructed you are ready to begin! If we are inside, set up your lamp at the agreed upon height,
put your marshmallows and thermometer in place, and turn on the lamp! Good Luck, and observe carefully as things will get hot!
Discussion Questions
10. Draw your solar oven in action. This time you do not need to label the parts. Use 3 different colors to label conduction,
convection, and radiation where you think each is happening.
11. Which heat transfer method do you think is least useful in solar cooking?
12. What are quantitative observations? In which data table did you record them?
13. What are qualitative observations? In which data table did you record them?
14. Create a graph of Data Table 1 that shows how the temperature in your oven changed over time. Make sure it has the 5
things all graphs need!
15. What were the strengths of your design?
16. What were the weaknesses of your design?
17. What would you change about your design next time?
18. Solar ovens are a great way for impoverished people in developing nations to cook food. If you were going to donate your
solar oven to somebody, where in the world would it be the most effective? Where would it make least effective? Use the
map below to justify your answer.