Hooked on Science: Pizza box solar oven

Use the sun and a few materials from around the house to help you cook your next meal.

Materials

* Pizza box

* Black construction paper

* Aluminum foil

* Clear plastic wrap

* Tape

* Scissors

* Pencil

* Ruler

* Wooden dowel

* Chocolate

* Graham cracker

* Marshmallow

Instructions

STEP 1: Using the ruler, draw a 1-inch border around the top of the pizza box. Cut along three of the lines, leaving the line along the back of the box uncut.

STEP 2: Fold along the uncut line to form a flap. Cover the inside of the flap with aluminum foil. Use the tape to secure the aluminum foil to the flap.

STEP 3: Open the lid of the box. Cover the inside of the lid with the clear plastic wrap. Use the tape to secure the clear plastic wrap to the lid.

STEP 4: Cover the inside bottom of the pizza box with the aluminum foil. Use the tape to secure the aluminum foil to the bottom of the pizza box. Tape a piece of black construction paper on top of the aluminum foil.

STEP 5: Stack a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow on top of a graham cracker. Put the chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker on top of the piece of black construction paper. Close the lid. Prop open the flap with the dowel rod. Place your pizza box solar oven in the sun and observe.

Explanation

The pizza box solar oven is heated through radiation, conduction and convection. The temperature inside the pizza box solar oven can reach 275 degrees, hot enough to melt the chocolate and marshmallow, creating a tasty treat.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his websitehookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.