INVESTIGATORY PROJECT - OPTICS.doc

7/27/2019 INVESTIGATORY PROJECT - OPTICS.doc

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Department of EducationRepublic of the PhilippinesNational Capital RegionDivision of Quezon City

DONA ROSARIO HIGH SCHOOL

SOLAR POWERED GRILLFROM RECYCLED CARTON

BOX(Focusing on Optics and

Energy)

An Investigatory ProjectIn Physics by:

Group IIKenneth Karl Pilapil

Helen GarciaAriesa Marie Baluran

Jonathan BaleinAngelica Cristobal


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ABSTRACT

This study aimed to find out if an old shoebox and a thick tin foil can be converted to a moreuseful piece of cooking equipment. The feasibility of reflective solar heated grill that is builtfrom a cardboard box, tin foil, and poster board as alternative cooking equipment was

studied in this research project. The cardboard box was cut and shaped. The tin foil issettled in the middle making it looks like a slide. We go outside in the heat of the sun. Thebarbeque sticks were placed in the spot where reflection of the sunlight focuses on thehotdog. Just like a real skewer the hotdog were cooked there for minutes. Tasted it and voila,real hotdogs on stick just like your mom used to cook.

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

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A solar heated grill can be built from a cardboard box, tin foil, and poster board. Sunlight hits thereflective surface and focuses on the hot dog held in the centre. Students can work in pairsor individually if there are enough materials.

This is a parabolic cooker we built a while ago, so unfortunately we can't show step by stepphotos of its construction. However, it's relatively easy to see how it was put together.

It makes a great Physics project. Unlike most, you'll actually get some use out of it

afterwards. Some of the principles it demonstrates are:

1. Optics: focusing parallel rays of incident light through the use of a parabolic mirror.2. Energy transformation: light to heat3. Renewable energy: solar power

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OBJECTIVES

General Objective:

This study thru physics aims to find out if an old shoe carton box can be useful to make analternative cooking machine.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study aims to find out if an old shoe carton box can be useful to make an alternative cookingmachine.

Player is significant to different sectors for various reasons:

Serve as an eye-opener for those who dont have a grill in their backyard who want toconvert their old shoe box carton into a hotdog grilling machine.

Provide information to students and teachers with respect to the recycling of carton box orold shoe box

Serve as motivating factor for the schools or institutions to direct their students and tofurther strengthen their capabilities for developing old carton box into a cooking grill andother processes to maximize the recycling of old carton box. Furthermore, the outcome of

the study will provide empirically based information to policy makers in Ecologicarecycled Waste Management. (RA 9003) junk cartons are usually stocked or thrown outelsewhere .Converting these non-functional cartons does not only support RA 9003 but italso opens an avenue to develop technology in the community.

Serves a connection to optics at physics.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This study was conducted August 07, 2010 to August 10, 2010.finalized in a day.It is limited to the use of carton box, tin foil. Glues, masking tape barbeque sticks, and hotdogs,yummy.

The conversion of an old carton box into a solar heated grill is the main concern of this research.The output can be done by properly assembling it.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

For purpose of clarity, the following terms used in the study are hereby defined.

Hotdog - A commonly-used (but etymologically obscure) term for a sausage that is usuallyeaten in a bun with ketchup, mustard, and/or relish.

Grill - .Outdoor cooking appliance .To cook food above charcoal, gas or other means ofheat. (Typically outside).

Tin Foil - A wrapping substance to keep food fresh

Skewer - is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together. They are usedwhile grilling or roasting meats, and in other culinary applications.

Chapter II

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grillinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grillinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roasting


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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Hot Dogs rank right up there Hamburgers as the favorite summer food. However, whilepeople can take a homemade hamburger seriously, the hot dog tends to be somethinginexpensive and flavorless. It's for this reason that I don't generally like hot dogs. I prefersomething better in the grill. This is why it's better to put a sausage in the grill rather than those

expensive fast-food hot dogs.

If you happen to be one of the world's 2 billion people who don't eat pork you are in luck. Thereare a lot of hot dog variations out there that are as good as the original. Sausages made fromturkey, beef, chicken are loaded with flavors and in some instances superior to their porkcounterparts. You can usually find these available in local health food stores or specialty meatmarkets.

There are probably as many ways to top off a hot dog as there are ways to top of a hamburger.You top your dog in this order: yellow mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, pickles, peppers, andcelery salt. I like hot and spicy mustard. And few things can make a meal out of a hot dog like aheavy dose of chili. However you like your hot dogs start out with a good dog and you'll get

something no one can refuse.

Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

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Materials/Equipment:

1. Two pieces of heavy cardboard (like the side of a cardboard carton). The first piece must be atleast ten inches square and the second smaller piece must be at least four inches by five inches.

2. A piece of light poster board eight inches wide and sixteen inches long.

3. Twelve inch wide aluminium foil. (You will use about 32 inches of the material.)

4. Some masking tape. (You may experiment with other types of tape.)

5. Nine inch long sticks about 1/16 inch in diameter. You may also use lengths of heavy wire.

Procedure1. Select a long narrow box; the longer the box the more heat collection is possible. Choose a

focal length between 5" and 10" and design a parabolic curve as seen in the picture. Onetemplate could be used for all the cookers. Trace the curve on the open end of the box sothat it is centered and straight

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2. Cut out the curve with autility knife. Stress theimportance of being exact.Measure and cut a piece ofposter board that will fixflush against the opening tothe box. Attach this withtape beginning at thecenter and working towardto edges.

3. Cover the curve with whiteglue and apply aluminum foilshiny side out. Start in themiddle and smooth toward theedges. Try not to wrinkle or foldthe foil; you want it as smoothas possible.

4. Use two scraps of cardboardtaped to each side as supports.Using the sun or a projector

light, test the focal point. There should be a bright spot where light is concentrated; mark thisspot and punch a hole for the skewer. Use a section of a coat hanger from which the paint hasbeen removed for a skewer.

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5. Enjoy your hot dog!

Chapter IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the data, analysis and interpretation of findings. It is in this part

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Whereby the data have been sorted out, tabulated, subjected to statistical analysis and then thefindings were interpreted.

After we had produced the hotdog grill out of recycled old carton box. And grilled the hotdogthere thru spotted sunlight reflections on the tin foil. We asked somebody to rate the taste andacceptance of the food.

Chapter V

CONCLUSION

Our hypothesis was right. The hot dog grill made of cardboard can really cooked delicioushotdogs which is acceptable in the real world; the cooker is cheap if built. Because the materialsare not expensive. Produced hotdog is the same as it is cooked in the grill. We think that if areflective hot dog cooker can be built from a cardboard box, tin foil, and poster board is feasiblethat hotdog can be cooked there just like mama used to cook. We think that it is cheaper andeconomical since we live in a tropical country, we think that this will be acceptable in our time..

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RECOMMENDATIONS

On the basis of the conclusions formulated, the following recommendations are offeredFor possible further study.

1. Information disseminations to the people on the proper recycling of old and dilapidatedCarton boxes and other recycled wastes should be intensified.

2. People should know the values of recycling not only the biodegradable and nobiodegradable wastes but also for them to do their part to cut down on waste pollutionthat affects the environment.

3. Carton users should be guided accordingly on how to recycle destroyed shoe cartonsrather than to junk them elsewhere, because dumping them elsewhere, will eventually cancause messy surroundings. For them also to help reduce the fire which are fatal to humanbeings.

APPENDICES

Solar Cooking Frequently-Asked Questions

What are the basic kinds of solar cookers?

There are three basic kinds:

Box cookers - This type of cooker has been the advantage of slow, even cooking of largequantities of food. Variations include slanting the face toward the sun and the number ofreflectors. You'll find an article discussing solar box cooker designs here.

Panel cookers - This recent development was sparked by Roger Bernard in France. In thisdesign, various flat panels concentrate the sun's rays onto a pot inside a plastic bag orunder a glass bowl. The advantage of this design is that they can be built in an hour or sofor next to nothing. In Kenya, these are being manufactured for the Kakuma RefugeeCamp project for US$2 each.

Parabolic cookers - These are usually concave disks that focus the light onto the bottom ofa pot. The advantage is that foods cook about as fast as on a conventional stove. The

disadvantage is that they are complicated to make, they must be focused often to followthe sun, and they can cause burns and eye injury if not used correctly. Some of theseconcerns have recently been reduced by Dr. Dieter Seifert's design.

There is a detailed document here showing a large number of variations on these themes. Youcan also listen to a good introduction to solar cooking here.

Who made the first solar cooker?

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http://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm#box-stylehttp://solarcooking.org/sbcdes.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm#panel-stylehttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm#parabolic-stylehttp://solarcooking.org/images/jobst1.jpghttp://members.tripod.com/~ashokk_3/solar1.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/media/presentations/voa_files/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm#box-stylehttp://solarcooking.org/sbcdes.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm#panel-stylehttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm#parabolic-stylehttp://solarcooking.org/images/jobst1.jpghttp://members.tripod.com/~ashokk_3/solar1.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/media/presentations/voa_files/default.htm


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The first solar cooker we know of was invented by Horace de Saussure, a Swiss naturalistexperimenting as early as 1767. See this article for more info.

Where are solar ovens being used the most?

There are reliable reports that there are over 100,000 cookers in use in both India and China. Weare aware of solar cooking projects in most of the countries of the world. Solar CookersInternational has recently had a breakthrough in Kenya using the Cook it panel cooker. More

than 5000 families are now solar cooking there.

How hot do solar ovens get?

Place an oven thermometer in the sunny part of the oven to get a reading similar to what thecooking pot is "feeling". The temperature reached by box cookers and panel cookers dependsprimarily on the number and size of the reflectors used. A single-reflector box cooker usuallytops out at around 150 C (300 F) as the food approaches being done. High temperatures,however, are not needed for cooking. Your oven will cook just fine as long as it gets up to about90 C (200 F) or so. Higher temperatures cook larger quantities, cook faster, and allow forcooking on marginal days; however, many people prefer to cook at lower temperatures, sincethen they can leave the food to cook while they go about their business. With a single-reflector

box cooker, once the food is cooked, it just stays warm and doesn't scorch. It's good to keep inmind that no food can go above 100 C (212 F) at sea level anyway, unless a pressurizedcooking vessel is used. The high temperatures you see in cookbooks for conventional ovens arejust for convenience and for special effects such as quick browning.

How long does it take to cook a meal?

As a rule of thumb, you can figure that food in a single-reflector box cooker will take about twiceas long as in a conventional oven. However, since you can't really burn your food, you don't haveto watch the cooker or stir any food as it cooks. You can just put in a few pots with differentfoods and then come back later in the day and each pot will cook to perfection and then stay hotuntil you take it out.

Panel cookers cook smaller portions, usually only in a single pot, but often they cook slightlyfaster. Some people have reported the need to stir food every once in a while when using thiskind of cooker to assure that the food heats evenly.

Cooking with a parabolic cooker is very similar to cooking on one burner of a conventional stove.Since the concentrated sunlight shines directly on the bottom of a pot, the pot heats up and cookvery quickly. The food will burn though. So you have to stir it and watch it carefully.

Do you have to turn the cooker to follow the sun?

Box cookers with one back reflector don't need to be turned unless you are cooking beans whichtake up to 5 hours. Panel cookers need to be turned more often than box cookers, since theyhave side reflectors that can shade the pot. Parabolic cookers are the most difficult to keep infocus. These need to be turned every 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the focal length.

Should I take the time to build a box cooker out of "real" materials like plywood orglass or is cardboard good enough?

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http://solarcooking.org/saussure.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/cookit.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/saussure.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/plans/cookit.htm


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Unless you need a cooker that can stay outside even in the rain, you'll do just fine with acardboard cooker. Cardboard is much easier to work with and holds heat just as well. Somepeople we know have used the same cardboard box cooker for over 10 years.

Would a mirror make a better reflector?

While mirrors are more reflective than simpler materials such as aluminum foil, but the addedgain is probably not worth the increased cost and fragility involved with using a mirror.

What kind of pots work best?

Ideally, you want to use a dark, light-weight, shallow pot that is slightly larger than the food youwill cook in it. Metal pans seem to cook best. Hardware stores in the US usually carry dark,speckled, metal pans called Graniteware. Shiny aluminum pots--so common in developingcountries--can be painted black or can be blackened in a fire. Cast iron pots will work, but extrasolar energy is used to heat up the pot as well as the food, so they will not work in marginalconditions.

If solar ovens are so good, why isn't everyone using one?

There are many factors at work here. First and foremost, the vast majority of the world'spopulation does not even know that it is possible to cook with the sun. When they find out aboutit there is almost universal enthusiasm, especially in regions where the gathering of cooking fueland the process of cooking over a smoky fire is a great burden. There are many factors that needto be in place to make it possible for poor people to solar cook on an on-going basis. The mostsuccessful projects have been ones where the need was the greatest, the weather the mostfavorable, and where the solar cooking promoters have taken a long-range approach to thetransition. An example of this is the work by Solar Cookers International in the Kakuma refugeecamp in Kenya.

If you build a box cooker out of cardboard, won't it catch fire?

No. Paper burns at 451 F (233 C) and your cooker won't get that hot.

What happens if the sun goes in front of the clouds while I'm cooking?

Your food will continue to cook as long as you have 20 minutes of sun an hour (using a boxcooker). It is not recommended that you cook meats unattended when there is a possibility ofsubstantial cloudiness. More information on food safety, go here. If you can be sure that the skywill stay clear though, you can put in any type of food in the morning, face the oven to the southand the food will be cooked when you get home at the end of the day.

I'm planning to do a science project on solar cooking. What should I study?

If you're planning a science project, Solar Cooker International wants you to know that yourresearch can help extend the world's knowledge of solar cooking and be of great help to peoplearound the world. You should be aware that it's easy to build a high-performance solar cooker ifyou have access to modern materials. However, the more than a billion poor people in the world,who could really benefit from having a solar cooker, don't have access to such materials. Thismeans that your research will be most useful if it concentrates on the simplification of cookerdesign or on the use of low-tech, local materials. For more information, seeTopics NeedingResearch.

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http://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/foodsafety.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/research/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/research/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/kakuma-m.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/foodsafety.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/research/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/research/default.htm


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What resources are available online?

Solar Cookers International sponsors the Solar Cooking Archive on the World Wide Web athttp://solarcooking.org where you will find illustrated construction plans, photographs,documents, and an international directory of solar cooking promoters. Their thrice-yearlynewsletter, the Solar Cooker Review, is also available there. An excellent document for furtherreading isThe Expanding World of Solar Box Cooking, by Barbara Kerr. You'll find a number ofaudio programs that you can listen to online here. Don't forget to read about eye safety here.

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http://solarcookers.org/http://solarcooking.org/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/http://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/images.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/docs.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/directory.asphttp://solarcooking.org/docs.htm#newslettershttp://solarcooking.org/kerr.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/media/audio/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/eye-safety.htmhttp://solarcookers.org/http://solarcooking.org/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/http://solarcooking.org/plans/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/images.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/docs.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/directory.asphttp://solarcooking.org/docs.htm#newslettershttp://solarcooking.org/kerr.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/media/audio/default.htmhttp://solarcooking.org/eye-safety.htm

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT - OPTICS.doc

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