| Creative Science Make a Homemade Solar Heatcatcher and Save Money! |
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Here’s how it works in a nutshell: The black paint absorbs the sun and heats up within the space between the window and the foil. As it is heating, the warm air is rising out of the top gap which creates a draft that pulls the cool air up through the bottom gap. In addition to this warm air current, the back of the heat catcher (the shiny, non-painted side of the aluminum foil) is getting very hot which is radiating heat in the room as well. How to Make a Homemade Heat Catcher: Materials Needed: Heavy duty Aluminum Foil (the largest size you can find) Black Flat Paint- (glossy paint will not absorb the heat as well as flat paint) Tape (could substitute string, tacks, staple gun, etc) Paint the dull side of the aluminum foil with the black, flat paint. When dry, attach foil to the window frame with either tape, tacks, string, etc. When attaching the foil be sure that painted side is facing the outside and leave a minimum of a 2 inch gap at the top of the window and bottom. Depending on the size of window, you may need to attach 2-3 pieces of foil horizontally; be sure to overlap pieces if you need more than one. Science Project: 1. Before hanging heat catchers, take the average morning temperatures for 3 days in a row. To get a more accurate reading on how much heat the catchers will produce, take the temps BEFORE any heat has been turned on in the house. The best time to do this is in the morning after the heat has been turned off or down for the night. Be sure to take it at the same time and the same room each day and to record the outside temperature as well. *Tip! You will get more dramatic results in heat increase by doing your experiment in a smaller room. Before Temperature Log: Day1 Room Temperature:__________________________ Outside Temperature:________________________ Day2 Room Temperature:__________________________ Outside Temperature:________________________ Day3 Room Temperature:__________________________ Outside Temperature:________________________ After Temperature Log: Day 1 Room Temperature:__________________________ Outside Temperature:________________________ Day 2 Room Temperature:__________________________ Outside Temperature:________________________ Day 3 Room Temperature:__________________________ Outside Temperature:________________________ Answer the questions below by referring to your Before and After Temperature Logs. 1. Find the average temperatures (To find the average, add up the 3 days of each temperatures (room and then outside) and then divide by 3. Average Before Temperature Log Average Room Temperature:__________________________ Average Outside Temperature:________________________ Average After Temperature Log Average Room Temperature:__________________________ Average Outside Temperature:________________________ 2. Based on the average numbers you came up with above, answer the following questions: a. What was the average difference from the outside temperatures and room temperatures in your Before Log? b. What was the average difference from the outside temperatures and room temperatures in your After Log? c. Find the average temperature increase after you put up the heat catcher? To find the answer, you will need to subtract answer “b” from the answer “a”. Critical Thinking: 3..What is the purpose of putting the black painted side of the foil facing the sun?_________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Do you think that the air between the foil and the window would heat up as much IF the shiny side of the foil was facing the sun? Why or why not?_______________________________ ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Keeping in mind that heat always rise, why do you think there is a current of air that is being circulated from your heat catcher? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Touch the heat catcher after it has been in the sun for a couple of hours. Is it warm, hot or very hot? 7. Define solar energy:____________________________ ___________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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