EEduVistaHQ

Solar Oven Heat Test

Build a pizza box solar oven and measure how reflector design changes the temperature inside.

Grade 8BuildExperimentEngineeringScienceEnergyEngineeringData AnalysisIntermediate1 to 2 hr8 materialsAdult supervision required

What you'll learn

  • Explain how light energy is converted to heat
  • Record temperature at regular intervals and graph it
  • Improve a design using evidence

Objective

Build a solar oven, measure its temperature over time, and improve it by changing one design variable.

STEM concepts

Solar energyAbsorption and reflectionInsulationGreenhouse effectEngineering design
Ready to do this one?Sign in or create a free parent account to unlock projects. Each family opens a couple of projects per grade every month, so there is always something new to come back to.
Sign up free
Materials and safety
Step-by-step instructions
Prediction, test sheet and results
Why does it work, challenge and project report

Try another STEM challenge

Grade 8
BuildIntermediate

Ping-Pong Ball Parachute Drop

Engineering, Science · Physics, Engineering

Make a parachute for a ping-pong ball and tune its design for the slowest, steadiest drop.

50 to 80 min · 7 materialsView project
Grade 8
ExperimentIntermediate

Insulation Showdown

Science, Engineering · Physics, Energy

Wrap cups of hot water in different materials and graph how fast each one cools to find the best insulator.

50 to 80 min · 6 materialsView project
Grade 8
BuildIntermediate

Earthquake Shake Table

Engineering, Science · Earth Science, Structures

Build a shake table and test how bracing and base design help a model building survive an earthquake.

1 to 1.7 hr · 7 materialsView project
Grade 7
BuildIntermediate

Wind Turbine Blade Test

Engineering, Science · Energy, Engineering

Build a model wind turbine and test how blade shape and number change how much weight it can lift.

1 to 1.7 hr · 9 materialsView project
Grade 8
ExperimentIntermediate

Series and Parallel Circuit Lab

Science, Engineering · Electricity, Physics

Wire bulbs in series and in parallel, measure brightness and current, and find the rules that explain the difference.

50 to 80 min · 5 materialsView project
Grade 9
ExperimentIntermediate

Hovercraft and the Coefficient of Friction

Science, Engineering · Physics, Engineering

Measure the pulling force needed to slide a disc with and without an air cushion and calculate the coefficient of friction.

60 to 90 min · 6 materialsView project

EduVistaHQ.com · Learn • Explore • Grow