Solar Energy Education Experiment: Wood Art

This solar energy education experiment harnesses the power of the sun to allow your child to create a work of art. This also shows how much power is contained in the relativlely small amount of sunlight hitting the magnifying glass, enough to set fire to wood.

There is an element of danger in this operation, so it needs to be carried out with ADULT SUPERVISION and at the discretion of the parent.

Materials Required: You will need the following:

* a large magnifying glass

* a bucket of water

* a pencil

* a flat piece of wood

* a bright sunny day!

Procedure: Draw a pattern on the piece of wood with the pencil. Use the magnifying glass to concentrate the sunlight into a tiny spot on the wood; this will cause the wood to char. Move the spot of concentrated sunlight around the wood, following the lines of the pattern made earlier. The result is a decorative pattern burnt into the wood.

If you feel your child is too young for this experiment please do not do it. It requires a fair degree of common sense. There are several dangers to be aware of:

* burning skin: if your child is holding the wood too close to the concentrated sunlight there is a risk of injury

* wanting to try it out on other items. Naturally, your child will be curious about whether this works on other materials. Make sure that the water bucket or garden hose are at the ready in case a fire starts.

Possible Extensions

One good way to extend the activity is to use the concentrated sunlight to dry out wet cardboard or paper, with the additional challenge of not burning or charring it. The sunlight can also be used to melt holes through ice cubes, or heat up water in a can or small pot.

Additionally the magnifying glass can be used to start a camp fire, though this must be done under strict supervision.