Smooth Black StoneGather three smooth black stones, as like to each other as possible. Outdoors, in the sunlight, place the stones on a piece of
cardboard. Leave one stone uncovered. Cover one stone with an upside-down
jar or clear drinking
glass.
Lightly scrumple up some kleenexes and place a few in the
bottom of the bigger box; then place the little box inside the bigger box, and
fill in the
spaces between the walls with more scrumpled kleenexes (or other insulating
material). Cut a piece of plastic wrap to fit over the opening and down
the sides a bit. Put your third stone into the “house” and cover the opening
with the plastic wrap, using the elastic band to hold it.
With your back to the Sun, decide how to orient your “house” so that sunlight shines into the box and onto the stone. (You may want to prop up the “house” so that its window is facing directly toward the Sun). Make sure all three stones are in sunlight. A slight breeze may be blowing. Consider that the glass and the “house” protect those two stones from the cooling breezes. Wait about 1/2 hour. Return. Check the temperature of the exposed stone, by picking it up in your hand and feeling it, and compare that temperature to the temperature of the stone that was covered by glass alone. Then open up the "house" unit, and feel the warmth of the third stone. ******* Here, solar energy warms the rocks. The warmed air in the
glass and the room is protected and does not blow away. Insulation in the walls
of the test house keep
heat from radiating away quickly. Meanwhile, more and more solar
energy is coming in through the window.
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http://www.sunwind.ca
Revised: November 2004