1- Let's build a solar oven to warm up our lunch and see how solar energy can be used. This was a brilliant idea from the Hungarian scientist Mária Telkes, who worked in the United States during the 20th century and specialized in developing solar energy, which is especially important in these times of energy adaptation due to climate change. She was known for developing a portable seawater desalination unit and a portable solar-powered oven
Tomorrow, bring a cheese sandwich or a chocolate bar, so we can use the solar oven to warm it up.
Look up information on how to make a homemade solar oven. To build it, you'll only need a few materials that you probably already have in your kitchen and a used pizza box. With these elements, you'll create an eco-friendly tool to heat your food or make easy dishes like melted chocolate desserts or warm sandwiches.
Materials:
- Large pizza box
- Pencil or pen
- Ruler
- Box cutter
- Adhesive tape
- 1 black cardboard sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap or an acrylic sheet
- 1 wooden skewer or pencil
Procedure:
- Clean the pizza box: Make sure to remove all food residues inside the box. It’s important that the box is intact without any tears or breaks.
- Draw a square: On the top lid of the box, draw a large square, leaving at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of space from each edge.
- Cut the square: Using the box cutter, cut along the two sides and the bottom of the square you’ve drawn. Leave one side uncut so that it functions as a hinge to open and close the flap.
- Cover the flap with aluminium foil: Line the inside of the flap with aluminium foil, ensuring it is smooth and secured with tape to avoid movement.
- Add plastic wrap to the opening: Open the flap and cover the open section of the box with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic film completely seals the opening and is tightly secured.
- Line the box interior with aluminium foil: Cover the entire inside of the pizza box with aluminium foil and secure it with adhesive tape.
- Place the black cardboard: Attach a sheet of black cardboard to the bottom of the box, ensuring it is centred. This will act as the heat absorber in your solar oven.
- Secure the flap: Insert a wooden skewer, pencil, or similar object on one side to prop the flap open. Use tape to secure it at a 90-degree angle to allow sunlight to reflect onto the black cardboard.
Here’s a 3-minute video from Little Scientist #6: Homemade Solar Oven with instructions for building the solar oven.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFwXPkI5OtU
It’s Cooking Time!
For example, you can make a cheese or chocolate sandwich – they turn out delicious!
To melt it, place the sandwich on a piece of aluminum foil, which will act as a tray on top of the black cardboard. Place the solar oven in a spot where it receives direct sunlight and let it do its work until the cheese is melted. Be careful when opening the solar oven, as it can reach high temperatures inside.While we enjoy the food we’ve heated, let’s talk about the process that allowed our food to get warm.