If I use more Aluminium foil in the solar oven(pizza box), then the temperature will be higher because more foil reflects more sunlight into the box

Solar Oven uses energy from sunlight to cook food. Using a reflective surface,solar radiation is converted into heat energy. Through this process sunlight is trapped and focused, which increases the intensity of the heat and cooks the items inside.

Solar Oven Energy Flow chart

Sunlight -----> Reflection -----> Absorption -----> Heat Transfer -----> Temperature Rise -----> Cook Food

The Solar Oven works through the green house effect.

Solar ovens:

• Save electricity and fuel
• Reduce pollution
• Use renewable energy
• Are helpful in areas without electricity

Independent Variables:

Aluminum foil

Dependent Variable:

The temperature inside the oven How fast the food melts/cooks

Controlled variables

Angle of the pizza box Sunlight Initial temperature Black paper Size of marshmallow and chocolate

Materials Used:

2 empty pizza boxes of same size Aluminum foil Plastic wrap Black construction paper Tape Glue Scissors Thermometer (that can go inside the box) Ruler Stopwatch or timer Identical food items example: marshmallows with chocolate pieces Notebook and pencil for recording data

Step 1: Build the Solar Ovens

Step 2: Change the Independent Variable (Amount of Aluminum Foil). I made Oven 1 with more aluminum foil and Oven 2 with less foil.

Make sure everything else stays the same: Same size pizza boxes Same type and amount of food Same time in the sun Same location outside

Step 3: Steps during the Experiment

Place all 2 ovens outside in direct sunlight at the same time. Put one thermometer inside each oven. Place one identical food item inside each oven. Close the lid and prop the flap open so it reflects sunlight inside. Record the results in every 5 min until chocolate melts

Step 4: Collect Data

Record the starting temperature for each oven. Record the temperature every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. Observe how fast the food melts or cooks. Write down all temperatures and observations in a data table.

Step 5: Compare Results

Look at which oven reached the highest temperature. Look at which food melted or cooked the fastest. Compare the results to your hypothesis: Did more aluminum foil cause more heat? Did it cook faster?

Results and Findings

- Oven 1 with more aluminium foil heated faster. - Oven 1 reached the higher final temperature - The amount of aluminium foil changed how much sunlight was reflected.

In this experiment, I tested how the amount of aluminum foil affected the temperature inside a pizza box solar oven. I recorded the temperature every 5 minutes for 25 minutes. The oven with the most aluminum foil reached the highest temperature. It heated up faster than the other oven and melted the food the quickest. The oven with the least aluminum foil had the lowest temperature and took the longest to melt the food. This shows that increasing the amount of aluminum foil increased the heat inside the oven. The aluminum foil reflected more sunlight into the box, which helped trap more heat.

Conclusion:

My hypothesis was supported. Using more aluminium foil made the solar oven hotter because it reflected more sunlight and trapped more heat.

Solar ovens can cook food using sunlight. They do not need electricity or gas. This helps save energy. It also helps reduce pollution. My experiment shows that more aluminum foil can increase heat. This can help people build better solar ovens. Solar ovens can be useful for camping or in places without electricity.

Sources of Error

- The ovens may not have received the exact same amount of sunlight.

- The angle could have changed during the experiment.

- Thermometer might not be in exact same spot

1. Youtube Resources - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsXhfpE5NCY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhgNh3BdMsc

Online

- https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-make-a-diy-solar-oven/?srsltid=AfmBOooKklh6K09QMJZ19DoP1KS7i8Id9YV2g2puoE2h5wjwEz_7XVSN - https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/solar-oven

I would like to thank my teachers - Mr DeGelder and Mr. Jassar and my Fairview School for giving me an opportunity to participate in Science fair. I also thank my parents for helping me gather the materials and setup and guide me throughout the project. I appreciate everyone's support and encouragement.