Room heater project window selection guidance

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urivas18
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Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2022 9:16 am
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Room heater project window selection guidance

Post by urivas18 »

Hi. We will be performing the Cold Room, make a heater project in Puerto Rico. Our question is why the selected window must be facing south? Does the sunlight must hit directly the window?
Which alternative for the guesso paint can be used?
JacquelineK
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Re: Room heater project window selection guidance

Post by JacquelineK »

Greetings!
Because the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, the location of windows can play a very important part in regulating temperature. North-facing windows receive the least amount of light due to direction. East-facing windows receive direct light only in the morning and West-facing windows receive direct light only in the afternoon/evening. South-facing windows are in light from about mid-day to late-afternoon and are exposed to direct sunlight for the longest, making them retain heat longer than any of the other windows. Hope this helps. Good luck!
bfinio
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Re: Room heater project window selection guidance

Post by bfinio »

Hi - chiming in to clarify that the south-facing window thing is specific to the northern hemisphere, particularly locations that are far enough north such that south-facing windows ALWAYS get the most light (e.g. the continental US). Locations in the southern hemisphere will get more light in their northern windows, and for locations close enough to the equator it will change throughout the year. Based on the chart on this page, I think Puerto Rico might actually get more sunlight in north-facing windows at certain parts of the year (the farthest north the subsolar point - the point where the sun is directly overhead -goes is 23.4 deg N latitude, and Puerto Rico is listed at about 18 deg N latitude, which would put it south of the subsolar point).
bfinio
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Re: Room heater project window selection guidance

Post by bfinio »

Oops - forgot to include the link in my reply: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsolar_point
urivas18
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Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2022 9:16 am
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Cold room heater project window setup

Post by urivas18 »

Hi. We are working on the solar heater project. Does the window has to be open during testing or closed?
MadelineB
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Re: Room heater project window selection guidance

Post by MadelineB »

Hi Urivas18,

I've merged your most recent question with the topic thread from your original post. Science Buddies recommends that you keep your posts together so the experts who have been helping you can see that you've posted a new question.

Thanks and good luck with your project.

Madeline
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bfinio
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Re: Room heater project window selection guidance

Post by bfinio »

Hi - the window should be closed during testing, otherwise outside air will affect your temperature measurements.
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