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Foundations of Technology
The Designed World: Energy and Power Technologies
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Apply: Solar Competition

Problem: You will construct a structure that will harness the thermal and radiant energy of the sun to cook the classic camp fire treat, the 'Smore' in the shortest amount of time. In the Evaluation section of your Design Folio, describe the different ways you attempted to shorten the cooking time and how you may change the design to greater cooking efficiency.

If you need help remembering the parts of the TDM click here doc (Word doc) or here rtf (rtf).solar cooker

Criteria and Constraints:

  • Your solar cooker must be able to partially melt the chocolate .
  • Your solar cooker must be able to partially melt the marshmallow.
  • Your partially melted chocolate and marshmallow will combine to create a 'Smore' sandwich.

Background Information: Solar energy is free and abundant and using a solar cooker has virtually no detrimental impact on the environment. Most household solar cookers can be built from every day materials available around the house. Typically, the inside temperature of a well designed solar cooker will reach 200° - 300° F which makes it a good alternative to conventional cookers that use non-renewable energy sources.

Solar cookers are made using a box or concaved shaped structure with reflective material to concentrate the sun's thermal rays on the cooking vessel. Solar cookers need direct sunlight and work best during the hottest part of day.

Materials: These are suggested materials that you could use to construct your cooker. The materials you need will vary by design.

  • Cardboard (a whole box or cut into pieces)
  • Aluminum foil
  • Black poster paper
  • Plastic bags
  • Tape or glue
  • Chocolate bars
  • Marshmallows
  • Graham crackers

Presentation: Complete the design folio using either of the two templates below:

The solar cooker is gaining in popularity as energy conservation awareness grows. One of the disadvantages of the solar cooker is that it can take longer to cook the food than a conventional oven. In the Evaluation section of your Design Folio, describe the different ways you attempted to shorten the cooking time and how you changed or may change the design of your cooker for greater cooking efficiency.

Evaluation: After you complete this project, you will complete the rubric that is included in the Design Folio Template. Then upload your completed Design Folio to the Solar Cooker Dropbox.
 
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