Solar Heating and Designing of a Solar Cooker
Lexile Score: 8.2
Source: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Author: Janice Van Cleave
Topics Seventh Grade, Physical Science, Physics, Environmental Issues - See more at:
http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/design-solar-cooker/#sthash.tNkMw4tu.dpuf
What You Need to Know
Solar energy is radiation from the Sun. Passive solar heating is a method of heating with solar energy
that does not require mechanical power to circulate heat. A solar cooker is a device that uses solar
energy to cook food.
How Does Passive Solar Heating Work?
Passive solar heating is any method of using energy from sunlight as long as other energy sources, such
as electricity, are not used. For example, dark-colored objects absorb more of the sunlight that falls on
them than do light-colored objects. Some of the light energy is changed into heat energy, which is also
called infrared radiation. Because a black object absorbs more sunlight, it will release more heat than a
white object will. Smooth, hard, light-colored objects will reflect more sunlight than rough, soft, darkcolored objects. Passive solar heating can also be achieved by directing the sunlight to a specific place.
Light reflects off the surface of shiny objects. Mirrors can be used to focus reflected sunlight, meaning
that the mirror directs the sunlight to a specific place.
What Does This Have to Do with a Solar Cooker?
A simple example of solar cooking is making sun tea in a glass jar. The jar is filled with water, and a tea
bag is added. Closing the jar helps to keep the heat in, as well as dirt and bugs out of, the jar. Some of
the sunlight passing through the glass changes into infrared radiation which warms the water and thus
cooks the tea.
Fun Fact
At the Academy for a Better World on Mount Abu in
India, solar cookers produce steam, which is used to
cook vegetables in very large pots. On days of peak
solar radiation, the cookers can be used to provide
food for about 38,500 meals.
Real-Life Science Challenge
Solar energy doesn't cause air pollution, and there is no
end to its supply. Compared to fossil fuels, sunlight is a
diluted source of energy. This means that it is spread
out over a large area. Sunlight is also only available at certain times, and there is less of it on cloudy days
and at different times of the year. But ways of collecting and transforming sunlight into other energy
forms, including solar cells that change sunlight into electricity, are constantly being improved.
Experiment
Now, start experimenting with solar cooking.
Hints Aluminum foil is very reflective and can be shaped to focus light. Some foods, such as chocolate
and marshmallows, can be cooked at low temperatures. Caution: Do not try to cook raw meat in your
Solar Heating and Designing of a Solar Cooker
Lexile Score: 8.2
solar cooker. This article is brought to you by: - See more at: http://www.education.com/sciencefair/article/design-solar-cooker/#sthash.tNkMw4tu.dpuf