Valencia,+N.

__ **Problem Statement** __


 * Could enough Thermal energy, (over a certain period of time) be able to cook raw cookie dough on a __**solar cooker**__ ?

__** Hypothesis **__
 * If I were to leave my solar cooker outside for 30 minutes then that would be sufficient time for raw cookie dough to cook.

Nickolas Valencia 11.12.11- Mr.Hankin’s 3rd period Research Paper

media type="custom" key="11293544"  Hello, and Good day, my name is Nickolas Valencia, and this is my problem statement, “Could enough Thermal energy, (over a certain period of time) be able to bake raw cookie dough on a **__solar cooker__**?" In order to ,comprehend my science investigation, you need to know the three most important factors, “the ** photovoltaic cell **, **thermal energy**, and **electromagnetic energy**.”

 The first factor you need to know in order to understand my experiment is, the photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is a device in which, converts radiation (in the form of light) into electrical energy. How does this occur? The photovoltaic cell has a special factor in which causes electrons to move around in different lengths creating a high voltage of energy. Why would people be so interested in such a thing? Since these cells convert light into electricity, people therefore do not have to consume their own energy to meet their house needs. All they need is to leave it out during the sunlight hours, in order to capture the light. To further understand the solar cells you need to know what electrons are. Electrons are particles that are charged with a negative electric charge. So when electrons are traveling in radiation and reach a solar cell or photovoltaic cell, they are separated in different bands or lengths creating an unbalanced voltage, which is then stored for a person’s needs.

These solar cells will come in handy, when I am conducting my experiment because it will store energy that will help cook my cookie dough. --- The second factor you will need to know to better understand my experiment is electromagnetic energy. Electromagnetic energy is measured in the SI unit, joules (how much electricity or work being used or how much was used). This form of energy travels through our planet as waves. Why is this important? This factor is important because electromagnetic waves carry energy, therefore when radiation (electromagnetic waves) meets with a solar cell; the solar cell splits the energy into different lengths or bands, causing a small voltage. To further understand this factor and its attributes you need to examine the electromagnetic spectrum; There are seven branches to the electromagnetic spectrum,microwaves, radio waves, infrared red, visible light, x-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet. In my experiment, it would be visible light in which the solar cell would be absorbing. Visible light is the only attribute on the spectrum that a human can see, any thing that is not in the range of visible light is impossible to see without a machine. --- The third and final factor you need to know in order to understand my investigation is thermal energy. Thermal energy is an example of kinetic energy, and is the temperature of the inside of an object. It is an example of kinetic energy because of the uneven moving of particles, creating temperature. How does this interact with the project? When electrons are moving around in electromagnetic waves they also create heat, because they are moving around, rapidly in all directions, creating heat, which would help heat a solar cooker. Thermal energy can come from two places: The sun and core of the earth. When light travels from the sun to our planet and heats up the atmosphere that is a perfect example of thermal energy, and the internal heating of our planet’s core is also another example of thermal energy. Thermal energy exists in most objects found in our universe.To me thermal energy is the most important factor all three because it involves the internal heat of an object. This will serve a good purpose in my project.



---  These three factors will guide me through my project. They provide reasonable logic towards my science investigation. With all the research I have done I can now hypothesize; if I were to leave my solar cooker outside for 30 minutes then that would be sufficient time for raw cookie dough to cook.My purpose to do this project is to purposely use the sun’s light to cook, instead of me using my own oven and energy

//__**Get to know me**__// I am a straight A student, and in 5th grade I competed in the district, for SECME. I won 3rd place in science for my school in the __**WHOLE ENTIRE DISTRICT**__ ! I love Science and Math ( F.Y.I. These are the subjects i am the best at).