Procedure

How to Build:

Step 1: Paint both boxes black both inside and outside.

Step 2: Cut the flaps off of the smaller box.

Step 3: Wrap the bowl neatly in tin foil and put tin foil on the flaps and the sides of the bigger box (Shiny side facing into the box).

Step 4: Place the small box in the center of the big box, and pack the area around the small box with packing peanuts.

Step 5: Place the aluminum bowl in the smaller box and pack any remaining space with packing peanuts.

Step 6: Close the flaps of the big box and cut 2 4-inch diameter circles in the center of the big box on the top of the flaps. These holes should be aligned with the inside of the aluminum-wrapped bowl when cut. Also, cut a 1-2 cm hole in the big box, so that we can fit a thermometer in the hole to measure temperature.

Step 7: Place 2 magnifying glasses on top of the two holes. This will magnify the light source and concentrate the light more on the inside of the box.

Data Table:

This data table is based off of time. We expect to be outside for an hour at least, so we set our max time at 70 minutes. We want to know how hot the oven gets, so we will measure the temperature with a thermometer every 10 minutes to see how well our oven works. To answer our hypothesis, every ten minutes we will also check to see if it has caught fire or not.

Graphs and the Trends:

This graph is demonstrating the predicted temperature from the time allotted. We predict that our temperature will increase exponentially, since our oven is predicted to be so efficient. The light trapped in the oven combined with the light still entering the oven will greatly increase the temperature of the oven, especially since the light is highly concentrated.

This graph shows our predicted flammability as time goes on. We predict that as time increases, especially into the over 100 degrees Celsius, the light will get so concentrated that the cardboard will catch fire. This is a possibility, although we don't think it will happen. We have researched out hypothesis and have taken all the precautionary measures to keep this from happening. Nevertheless, it can still happen, and this is where we predict the probability (in percentage) that the oven will catch fire as time goes on and the temperature increases.

Math Equation: To find the efficiency, we need to find the energy output and energy input. The equation for efficiency is then:

          Energy Output  x100

Energy Input

Energy output will be divided by the energy input because we need to take what we got out of the oven and divide it by what we put in to the oven. The value is a decimal, so multiply by 100 to get it to a percentage. If the percentage is greater than 100, this means the output value is greater than the input value, and is therefore efficient. However, if the value is less than 100, then the input level is greater than the output level, and therefore is not efficient.