Solar Oven Science Project

The following sample solar oven science project experiment is meant to give you ideas on how to perform experiments and arrange your project. Use this solar project to come up with ideas for your own experiments.

Solar Oven Science Project - Air Temperature and Cooking Efficiency

This solar oven science project experiment determines if air temperature affects the cooking efficiency of a solar oven.

Background:

Research information on solar ovens. Answer the following questions: What is solar energy? What is a solar oven? Why use a solar oven? What principles are involved in solar cooking? What affects, if any, do solar ovens have on the environment?

Hypothesis:

From your research you will determine if temperature affects solar oven cooking efficiency. The solar oven cooking efficiency will be tested under the following conditions: cold day (32 °F or below, 0 °C or below), cool day (50-55 °F, 10-15 °C), warm day (75-80 °F, 23-27 °C), and a hot day (85-95 °F, 30-35 °C).

Materials: (Adult supervision of kids is always recommended.)

• Suggested solar oven kit:

       
           Science Kit: Solar Oven

           Scientifics Online: Solar Oven

           Ward's Natural Science: Solar Oven

• Item to cook: pre-made cookie dough, refrigerated brownie batter, or refrigerated breadsticks
  
  
• Black mini-cookie sheet or black mini-baking pan
  
  
• Weather Check Station Kit
  
  
• Dial Thermometer/Hydrometer Kit
  
  
• Oven thermometer
  
  

Procedure:

1. Gather materials needed for your solar oven science project experiment.

2. Follow the instructions in your kit to assemble your solar oven. Follow all safety requirements when handling your solar oven. Parent/adult supervision is highly recommended as heat in some ovens could reach 450 °F (230 °C).

3. Before you begin cooking, choose a day that is clear and sunny. Record the weather conditions of that day: temperature, humidity, cloud cover, wind direction, and wind speed. Use your Weather Check Station and Dial Thermometer/Hydrometer instruments to check these conditions. Except for temperature, the weather conditions should be as similar as possible across all experimental days.

4. Follow the instructions from your solar oven kit for setting up your oven for cooking. Preheat the solar oven for 20 - 40 minutes before cooking. You can preheat the oven by placing it in a sunny location. Be sure your oven is shielded from the wind.

5. Carefully place an oven thermometer in your solar oven and record the oven temperature. You may want to wear heat protectant gloves.

6. Place your food item (cookie, brownie batter, or breadstick) in your baking pan and put the pan in the solar oven cooking compartment. You may also place your food item(s) directly on the cooking compartment surface if desired. Record the time you start cooking.

7. Allow your food item(s) to cook until done. Read instructions on the food packages to determine when your food is done.

8. Record the time it takes for your food to finish cooking.

9. Repeat your experiment (second trial) on a different date. Record the weather conditions and your experimental results. The weather conditions should be similar to the conditions of the first trial.

10. Repeat steps (1-9) for the remaining days. For example, if you chose to do your cold day experiment first, repeat the same procedure for your cool day, warm day, and hot day experiments.

Record Observations

Cooking Day			Weather Conditions
	Trial	Date	Temperature	Humidity	Cloud Cover	Wind
Cold Day	1
	2
Cool Day	1
	2
Warm Day	1
	2
Hot Day	1
	2

Record Observations

Cooking Day		Cooking Time
	Trial	Food Item(s)	Start Time	Finish Time
Cold Day	1
	2
Cool Day	1
	2
Warm Day	1
	2
Hot Day	1
	2

Results:

Compare your results for your solar oven science project experiment. Did the air temperature have an affect on the cooking efficiency of your oven? Graph and chart your data.

Conclusion:

Summarize what happened in your project experiment based on your results. Explain patterns in your data. What affects do other weather conditions ( humidity, cloud cover, wind, etc.) have on the efficiency of solar oven cooking? How can you improve the cooking efficiency? Did your data support your hypothesis? If not, explain why. Evaluate your project and make suggestions for improvements.

Project Display:

Now that you have completed your science project experiment, it is time to showcase all of your hard work. For information on how to display your science fair project, see Science Project Displays.

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