Aluminum Science

Post-visit Activity:

Making a Solar Stove

Materials:
1 aluminum muffin tin/12 students
paper baking cups
foil baking cups
marshmallows
chocolate candy bars
thermometers

Procedure:

1. Place marshmallows in 6 paper baking cups and 6 foil baking cups and place in each aluminum muffin tin.
2. Place a chocolate square on top of each marshmallow.
3. Place the muffin tins in direct sunlight with thermometers nearby and observe the temperature of the solar stoves and how long it takes the chocolate to melt. Then enjoy them.

Results:
The chocolate will melt from the energy of the sun. More of the heat in the foil-lined cups will be reflected inward and that chocolate should melt faster.

Discussion Questions:

1. In which kind of cup does the chocolate melt first?
2. If one tin is tilted toward the sun, does it make a difference? Observe and record the temperatures at different angles.
3. When you find the angle that gives you the highest temperature, place different materials or different-colored construction paper on your solar stove to determine which absorbs the most heat. Try aluminum foil, plastic wrap, wax paper or regular paper.

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