Improvisation of a solar cooker for instructional use

• Main Author: Mojica, Magdalena C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1980
• Subjects: Solar cooking; Physics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/752
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study improvises and tests a solar cooker for use in the Physics (Science) class. The researcher initially constructed four paraboloid type and two box type solar cookers. These models were tested against a control and a graph of temperature against this was plotted for each model. Data for each model were tabulated the best features of each were analyzed, and based on these, a final model was constructed and tested. After testing the models constructed, the following conclusions are cited: 1. The characteristics of the improvised solar cooker: a. The materials are of relatively low cost. b. The maximum temperature attained is higher than any of the designs tested. c. The cooker is cut depending upon the latitude of the location. d. The cooker is oriented lengthwise in the North-South direction. e. The cooker can be used for boiling water and cooking certain types of food. f. The cooker is durable in relation to its cost. 2. The improvised box type solar cooker consists of four main parts. a. An absorber acts to absorb the solar energy and so converts it into heat. b. A cover reduces heat losses and increase green house effect. c. A concentrator, reflector or booster may be used to increase the solar energy per unit area incident upon the absorber. d. An insulator prevents heat transfer from the absorber to the outside part of the cooker. 3. The following local materials of relatively low cost were found to be better than other materials used in the construction of the solar cooker. a. Used carbon paper as absorber. b. Gauge No. 10 plastic sheets for cover. c. Plane mirror as the reflector. d. Old newspapers for insulation e. Carton boxes for the body of the solar cooker. 4. The minimum cost for the box type solar cooker was P50.70 as of May 5, 1980. 5. The physics concepts that can be illustrated in the solar cooker are: a. Absorption and energy conversion b. Conduction c. Convection d. Radiation e. Green house effect f. Heat capacity g. Electromagnetic radiation h. Temperature measurement 6. a. The facto