Hypothesis 1: Temperature generated depends
on how close to the focal point temperature is
measured.

Principle: A parabola redirects all the sunlight
from a broad area onto a very small spot.

Experiment: Place the parabola into sunlight.
Be very careful. Meat cooks at 140 degrees;
the temperature may soar to 400 degrees in
the focal point.

1. Have students move the parabola until it
   faces the sun.
2. Identify the focal point.
3. Have students time how long it takes for
   paper to ignite.
4. Have students time how long it takes for
   the focal point to shift enough to where
   paper will not ignite.

Conclusions: Have students do calculations and
discuss what they learned.