how can I get a soda can to heat up with nothing but the sun?

Question

So I have a soda can that I painted black, and I need to find away to get it to heat up outside with just the sun...any ideas....

Answer 1

Glass can amplify the heat converged, make sure you use a convergent lens which will concentrate the rays into the can rather than a reflective or divergent one. Aluminum foil added to the outside of the can also help absorb the heat, make sure the shiny side is facing inwards to the can and the dull side is on the outside.

Answer 2

How hot do you want to get it? Pour some sand in it and place it outside it the sun or place it in a closed box with a glass or clear plastic lid. Buy a small fresnel lens to really heat it up but be careful...fresnel lenses in direct sunlight can generate temp's of over 3000 degrees. I had a friend many years ago that made a solar heater for his garage with 4 X 8 sheets of plywood, some 2 X 4's and some old window panes-- using just aluminum cans and a small blower. He made a series of passages back and forth that he placed the cans in and made an inlet for cool air and an outlet for warm or hot air to blow into his shop.

Answer 3

are you just trying to heat up the can or something in the can?
the black can will heat up just by being in the sun. if you are trying to heat up something in the can 1) the black will help to heat the can 2)use concave mirrors and focus the suns rays on the can