Ever wondered how the sun can cook your food? In this fun experiment, we’ll build a simple solar oven using a pizza box and learn how to harness the power of sunlight!

What you’ll need:

• 1 empty pizza box (or similar cardboard box)
• Tin foil
• Plastic wrap
• Black card/construction paper
• Tape
• Scissors (for adult use)
• Small piece of food to cook (like cheese on toast or a s’more)
• A sunny day!

Let’s get cooking!

1. Prepare the box: Carefully cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box, leaving a few centimeters around the edges. This will be our “window” for sunlight.
2. Line the flap: Cover the underside of the flap with tin foil, smoothing it down and taping it securely. This shiny surface will reflect sunlight into the box.
3. Line the bottom: Place a sheet of black construction paper at the bottom of the box. Black absorbs heat best, helping to cook our food.
4. Seal the box: Stretch plastic wrap tightly over the opening created by the flap and tape it securely around the edges. This creates a “greenhouse effect,” trapping heat inside the box.
5. Cook your food: Place your chosen food (like a s’more or cheese on toast) on the black paper. Close the lid and place the box in a sunny spot.
6. Observe and wait: Let the solar oven sit in the sun for at least 30-60 minutes. Check periodically to see how your food is cooking. You should notice it gradually warming up or melting as the sunlight is trapped and converted into heat.
7. Clean up: Once your food is cooked, carefully remove it from the box. Clean up any leftover food and dispose of any waste properly.

The Science Behind the Sun-Baked Goodness:

This experiment demonstrates how solar energy can be used to produce heat. The tin foil reflects sunlight into the box, while the black paper absorbs the heat. The plastic wrap traps this heat inside, creating a mini greenhouse effect that cooks our food.

Key takeaways:

• Solar energy: Energy from the sun can be harnessed for various uses, including heating and even cooking!
• Greenhouse effect: This natural phenomenon traps heat within a space, similar to how greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
• Absorption: Dark colors, like black, absorb heat more effectively than lighter colors.

This simple project is a fun and engaging way to learn about solar energy and how it works. So grab a pizza box and get cooking with the sun! ☀️

Vocabulary:

• Solar Energy: Energy from the sun.
• Greenhouse Effect: The trapping of heat within a space.
• Absorption: The process of taking in heat or light.

I hope this blog post is informative and encourages you to try this exciting experiment!

Download a pdf of the DIY Simple Solar Oven Experiment.