Solar Cooker
Create a solar cooker to make
S’mores and in the process
learn about solar energy and
its use as a fuel source.
Engineering Design Process
Outline
Step 1: Introduction
Step 2: Your Challenge
Step 3: Specifications and Constraints
Step 4: Design Criteria
Step 5: Develop Knowledge
Step 6: Build Prototype – Part I
Step 7: Build Prototype – Part 2
Step 8: Test Your Design
Step 9: Evaluate Your Design
Step 10: Refine Your Design
Step 11: Design Solution
Step 1: Design Solar Cookers
Do you love cooking using your stovetop, oven or microwave? Better yet, do you simply enjoy good
home cookin’ while spending time with your family?
Around the world, many families are trying different ways to:
•cook nutritious meals with little money
•pasteurize water (kill disease-causing organisms)
•lower energy costs
Solar cookers use solar energy — the energy from direct sunlight — to heat, cook or pasteurize food
and beverages. As an alternative to gas, wood, or electric stoves, solar ovens are a low-cost, eco-
friendly technology that can improve the lives of families who have little money.
In this project, you will work as a solar design engineer* to design a solar cooker to make S’mores.
Before you enjoy your tasty treat, let’s learn more about your design challenge.
*To view a short career video on solar design engineering hold Ctrl and click to follow this link or copy and paste this
link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnTUvWjNTMM
Solar Cooker 1
Step 2: Your Challenge - Design a Solar Cooker!
Your challenge is to work as a solar engineer to build a solar cooker that cooks four S'mores in
30 minutes. You will build a solar cooker and design the best angle to cook your S'mores.
You will have limited time and materials for your solar cooker.
Materials
• One 14-inch pizza box
• Aluminum Foil
• Plastic Wrap
• Black construction paper
• Tape
• Glue
• Popsicle Sticks
• Energy from the Sun
S’Mores
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate bar
• Graham crackers
Solar Cooker 2
Step 3: Specifications and Constraints
To design a solution to this challenge, first identify the specifications and constraints.
Specifications are what your solution must do. They are the requirements. For example, specifications for
solar engineers might be that they design a structure that collects solar energy to help to grow plants during
the winter.
Constraints are things that limit your solution. A constraint may be how much you can spend or how much
time you have to complete the challenge. For example, a constraint for a solar engineer might be that they
design a solar panel system for a school that costs less than $25,000.
What are the specifications and constraints for this challenge? Check off the correct choices below.
Solar Cooker 3
Step 4: Design Criteria
Good job identifying the specifications and constraints! Now that you know what you are supposed to
do, here are some criteria that you will use to evaluate your solar cooker.
Specifically, you want your solar cooker to fully cook four S’mores (melted chocolate and gooey
marshmallows) so that they are ready to eat in 30 minutes.
Below is what you will use to rate your solar cooker. Use it to think about how you will build your solar
cooker!
Solar Cooker Rating 1 2 3
The sunlight reflects inside
The sunlight reflects The sunlight reflects inside
Angle Design the box, but is NOT
outside of the solar cooker. the box AND is centered.
centered.
The chocolate did not melt The chocolate melted OR The chocolate melted AND
Ready to Eat AND the marshmallows did the marshmallows became the marshmallows became
not become gooey. gooey. gooey.
2 or less S’mores are ready 3-4 S’mores are ready to 4 S’mores are ready to eat
Time
to eat after 30 minutes eat after 30 minutes in less than 30 minutes.
Solar Cooker 4
Step 5: Develop Knowledge
What is a Solar Cooker?
Solar cookers capture solar energy to warm food. They work
by reflecting sunlight off the open lid onto the bottom of the
box. The bottom is covered with clear plastic wrap to trap
the heat. The reflecting surface needs to be angled to direct
the maximum amount of sunlight. The box receives sunlight
both directly from the Sun as well as reflected off the lid of
the box.
Solar Cooker 5
Step 6: Build a Prototype - Part I
Engineers build prototypes, or a first version of a product, to test their design ideas.
Follow the instructions below and use the materials given to you to build you solar cooker.
Remember the design criteria that you will be using to evaluate your solar cooker!
PART I INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut the edges off the top cover of the pizza box so that it becomes just one flat surface.
2. Attach a single piece of aluminum foil to the inside of the cover using tape. Keep the foil
smooth to reflect the most sunlight!
3. Place the black construction paper in the bottom of the box; black absorbs the most light and
captures the most energy from the Sun.
Solar Cooker 6
Step 7: Build a Prototype - Part II
Engineers build prototypes, or a first version of a product, to test their design ideas.
Follow the instructions below to determine the optimum box-lid position for your solar
cooker.
Remember the design criteria that you will be using to evaluate your solar cooker!
PART II INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Go outside and place the pizza box in full direct sunlight.
2. Position the lid so that the bottom and foil covered lid face the sun.
3. Move the foil covered lid up and down and look for the reflection of the sun from the foil onto
the black paper bottom. Adjust the solar cooker so that the reflected sunlight is centered on
the bottom of the box. To be effective the lid needs to reflect as much sunlight as possible
towards the bottom where the S’mores will be located.
4. Secure the lid’s position at that angle using two Popsicle sticks and tape.
Solar Cooker 7
Step 8: Test Your Design
Ok, now comes the final decision you must make as an Engineer on this project.
Do you want to place just the marshmallow or the chocolate on graham cracker in the cooker?
Or do you want to place the entire constructed S'more in there?
Put your 4 S'mores into the solar cooker. Cover the box opening with plastic wrap. Make sure
the box is positioned facing the sun and monitor your S’mores to see if the chocolate and
marshmallows are melting.
After 30 minutes, evaluate your design using the design criteria on the following page.
Solar Cooker 8
Step 9: Evaluate Your Design
Now that you have designed and tested your solar cooker, evaluate your solar cooker using the rubric
below.
Solar Cooker Rating 1 2 3
The sunlight reflects inside
The sunlight reflects The sunlight reflects inside
Angle Design the box, but is NOT
outside of the solar cooker. the box AND is centered.
centered.
The chocolate did not melt The chocolate melted OR The chocolate melted AND
Ready to Eat AND the marshmallows did the marshmallows became the marshmallows became
not become gooey. gooey. gooey.
2 or less S’mores are ready 3-4 S’mores are ready to 4 S’mores are ready to eat
Time
to eat after 30 minutes eat after 30 minutes in less than 30 minutes.
Solar Cooker 9
Step 10: Refine Design
Engineers use test results to refine their designs.
Based on your evaluation of your solar cooker, how would you refine your design?
Solar Cooker 10
Step 11: Design Solution
Congratulations! You have successfully used engineering design to make a solar cooker! You
have just done what solar engineers do every day - design and construct devices that use
energy from the sun.
If you didn't have a chance to view the video at the beginning click here to explore a career as
a Solar Design Engineer*.
*To view a short career video on solar design engineering hold Ctrl and click to follow this link or copy and paste
this link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnTUvWjNTMM
Solar Cooker 11
