Linda Wang

"Nothing is more intolerable than to have to admit to yourself your own errors" —— Ludwig Van Beethoven

Category: Science 9

Science and Engineering Blog Post 4

March 13, 2022 / / 0 Comments

In the beginning of the design process, since our goal was to make a solar cookie maker, Sienna and I decided to take inspiration from the plan of the solar cooker on Ms. Beatty’s Ideas Padlet. We got inspired by the models provided, and decided to create the “base” of the oven using cardboard box, cover it with insulation material to keep heat inside, and cover the inside of the oven with aluminum foil, which would maximize the amount of heat created due to reflection of light. Lastly, we decided to add some solar panels so that the temperature would be hot enough that it can “bake” cookies. However, before Test 1, we decided to see what temperature the oven can reach on its own without solar panels. Nevertheless, that day was windy and had no sun, so the temperature dropped. After realizing that there is not enough energy, we added solar panels on, we conducted Test 2. On that day, it was sunny but windy, so the heat collected by solar panels and aluminum foil was blown away. We concluded that there is too much open space, thus limiting the temperature increase. We decided to solve this problem by wrapping plastic wrap on our design. We chose this material because it can limit open space (keeping the heat in) but it also allow most of the sunlight to reach aluminum foil and solar panels. Finally, on Test 3, the temperature rose by about 7 degrees celsius.

Even with our finished product/prototype, there are several areas for further improvement. First, since the base is made out of cardboard, there is a certain possibility that if our design was used during summer, it might catch on fire. Second, our product is very light, so it will be easily blown away on windy days. Third, our product is quite big and its size and shape is solidified, meaning that it will be hard to carry around. However, there are also strengths to our product. First of all, our product works; it can heat up. Second, our product is good for the environment; it uses cardboard which is recyclable, and is heated through using solar energy collected using solar panels and using angles and geometry. Finally, our product has good design; it is very shiny and shimmery which is pretty. In addition, our device also fits the design specifications. This is because our product is targeted to people who wants to make cookies without an oven, it is also pretty, it is environmentally friendly, and it works.

The most challenging part of the process would be conducting the tests to see if it works, and if it doesn’t work, how to alter it. This is because we had to be creative in order to come up with solutions of our problems and had to analyze our prototype to see what caused the prototype to fail. The part which I am most proud of is the final test, where our prototype/product worked.

 

 

Science Engineering Blog Post 3

March 4, 2022 / / 0 Comments

My prototype reflected that there are several areas needed for further improvement and careful consideration. Our original idea was that the sun would hit the solar panels, which would reflect, thus transferring solar energy into heat energy. The inside of the “oven” would be covered with aluminum foil, which provided further heat and insulation material would be used to keep heat inside. Nevertheless, since we chose to create an oven with an open top, we did not consider that there might be too much open space; winds could sweep away any heat that has been accumulated. Furthermore, we did not account for weather and temperature changes throughout the year. During summer, the temperature is hot and the sunlight is quite sharp, thus cookies can be easily warmed. Whereas in winter, there is less sunlight and low temperature, thus cookies are hard to warm. Moreover, during windy days, since the oven is made out of cardboard which is very light, the cooker is easily blown away. However, a strength of my prototype is that it shows all of the existing problems with our design. Because we chose a larger box, we noticed that there is too much open space. Also, because the base of the oven is made of cardboard, we then noticed that we need to increase the weight of our prototype.

Not only did we receive feedback from our experiments, we also received feedback from our peers. They have suggested for us to add solar panels instead of solely relying on geometry to calculate the best angle of refraction and to use aluminum foil to reflect the solar energy. This suggestion helped us reserve and keep solar energy more effectively and efficiently. From this point on, me and my partner decided that we want to limit the open space, recreate a lid that can change to different angles depending on different positions of the sun, add weight to our overall project, and figure out to transfer solar energy into heat energy efficiently even during the coldest months of the year.

After we received feedback about having too little power and too much open space, we decided to solve this complication by wrapping the prototype with plastic wrap and placing two solar panels on the flap/lid. We chose plastic wraps because it is transparent, which meant that it absorbed little solar energy so most of the energy could be used to heat up the marshmallows but it still provided a layer that keeps heat inside and limits open space. At first, we wanted to put only one solar panel. But, after we put the solar panel on, we realized that it would not be enough since our prototype is quite big. Thus, we settled with two solar panels

Revised project:

Science Engineering Blog Post 2

February 22, 2022 / / 0 Comments

     

I used the Inquire part. I researched about other solar food-makers and was inspired by those creations. Thus, Sienna and I developed a model showing our creation.

To create our product, we plan to use a cardboard box as our place, cover the base with black construction paper and aluminum foil. By doing this, we hope to raise the temperature inside the cardboards box and to heat up the bottom of the box, where the cookies will be placed. We plan to make a stick thing which will support the lid to an angles. This will allow sunlight to reflect off of the lid, heating the cookies. This idea came from how we used magnifying glass to burn ants in our childhood. We want to add a temperature probe and possibly solar panels, but are not sure of the placement. For success, we plan to tryout our prototype next class without solar panels just to see how hot it gets, and make adjustments according to our data.

My success criteria is that the product needs to work. It should be mostly environmentally friendly and aesthetically okay.

Science Engineering- Solar Cookie Maker

February 22, 2022 / / 0 Comments
  1.  The function of my product is to make cookies. The potential user would be the people who enjoys cookies and would like to make cookies.
  2. Since my product is a solar cookie maker, it will reduce the amount of electricity needed. It is more safe because its using solar energy instead of electricity, which is easier to be shocked.
  3. I was inspired by the ‘Ideas Padlet’. My take away was that I wanted to make a product that makes food.
  4. I am going to research into other solar food-makers and then try to model mine similar to theirs.

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