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Solar Energy Science Fair Project

Sun Prints on Construction Paper

Easy
Sun Prints on Construction Paper | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Can sunlight change the color of paper? Place leaves and flowers on a sheet of construction paper and leave it outside in direct sunlight. The covered spots stay dark while the exposed paper fades. When you remove the leaves and flowers, you see sharp outlines where they blocked the Sun's UV rays. The shapes stay vivid against the faded background. This shows how UV light breaks down color over time.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the construction paper will change color where it's exposed to sunlight, but not where it's covered by natural objects.

Method & Materials

You will collect leaves and flowers, arrange them on colorful construction paper, and cover them with plastic wrap so that it doesn’t blow away. Then you'll leave it in the Sun for a few hours. Finally, you'll remove the plastic wrap and natural objects to reveal your unique designs.
You will need colorful construction paper, clear plastic wrap (or plexiglass), natural objects like leaves or flowers, small rocks to use as weights.

Results

The paper’s color got lighter where it was exposed to sunlight, but not where it's covered. By protecting the paper with the leaves and flowers, you can see how the Sun's UV rays affect construction paper.

Why do this project?

This project is interesting because it combines art and science in a fun and creative way. It encourages children to explore nature and their creativity while learning about the Sun's energy and UV rays.

Also Consider

Try using different types of paper or objects to see how they affect the results. You could also try leaving the paper in the Sun for longer or shorter periods to see how that affects the outcome.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related videos

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Check out from the Natural History Museum in London how you can make sun prints indoors with a window that gets a lot of sun!
You can make a beautiful sun print with paper cutouts as well! Follow along this video from the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles!
See what other interesting objects you can use to make sun prints from Bainbridge Island Museum of Art's video!
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