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| |  | Select Solar Power | Home » » Thames and Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop | | | | | | WARNING:| CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs. | | CHOKING HAZARD -- Children under 8 yrs. can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once. |
| | | Description: | | In one way or another, almost every form of energy we use originates as energy from the sun. Solar energy directly powers photovoltaic cells and thermal collectors. Indirectly, we get power from plants grown by the sun, oceans heated by the sun, and Earth s weather systems sustained by the sun. Even the energy stored in fossil fuels originated as energy from the sun, captured by plants and animals millions of years ago. Physics Solar Workshop explores the topic of solar energy, focusing on photovoltaic cells. By building 12 models and conducting 30 experiments, you will learn how solar cells transform light into electrical energy, and how motors and mechanical devices can optimize the work done by this energy. You will build different types of vehicles and machines to demonstrate how gears can convert and transform power for different needs. There are 320 parts, which are also compatible with the other kits in our Physics line. The 64-page book offers illustrated instructions for the projects. Developed with Greenpeace® in Germany. Ages 8 and up. build 12 models, including a solar-powered tractor, truck, treaded vehicle, car, elevator, drawbridge, fan, airplane, mobile crane and construction crane learn about harnessing and using solar power learn about motors and simple machines | | | Features: | |
• Build 12 models, including a solar-powered tractor, truck, treaded vehicle, car
• Learn about harnessing and using solar power
• Learn about motors and simple machines
• Best seller
• Parents' Choice Silver Honor
• Also includes elevator, drawbridge, fan, airplane, mobile crane and construction crane
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 14.6 inches | | Product Width:
| 11.5 inches | | Product Height:
| 3.1 inches | | Product Weight:
| 2.19 pounds | | Package Length:
| 14.5 inches | | Package Width:
| 11.5 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.2 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 10 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 10 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 found the following review helpful:
 Solar Cell and Motor is not powerful enough to run anything createdDec 07, 2009
By Kabir
I bought this toy for my son's 10th birthday. He spent couple of hours creating the crane as instructed in the manual. The crane will not run in the sun or with a 100 Watt bulb. He tried to run it with one AA battery instead of the solar cell as written in the manual. It still will not run. If you just run the motor with the solar cell without any load on the motor, the motor runs with a 100 Watt bulb or in the sun. But as soon as you put any load on it, it stops running. I think 1.5 V motor just does not have any power to take any load. My son is extremely frustrated.
This is a very well designed product otherwise, with nice gears and other parts. The projects you can do with it like making cranes and vehicles are quite educational and fun to build. If they had provided a stronger motor and solar cell, this product would have been excellent and I would have given it a five star rating. But it is very frustrating when a product doesn't do what it is advertised to do.
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 A functional science toyDec 20, 2009
By G. LAMB
When I read the sole review here, and then read very positive reviews at another site which also sells it, I was perplexed about whether to buy it or not. I bought it. Today, as a test I built the first solar vehicle in the booklet. It was late afternoon, with high clouds partly obscuring the sun when I took the solar car outside to see if it would work. The car did propel itself with just the solar cell and motor. It was not fast, but it did work. Inside, a flashlight provided more speed and vigor.
I will be interested in building the other experiments in the booklet with our grandson. I will also explain to him that we may have to add another solar cell or two to the solar car and see how much added speed that provides, but that will make it an even better science toy!
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
5 star productFeb 28, 2010
By Photon
we tried several items and the contraptions work flawlessly in sunlight. i need to find a good portable indoor source that can do the same so we can have some fun indoors.
i found this an extremely educational toy for my daughter and we both had a ball reading the instructions together and figuring out what to do.
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Update 3/14/10: After trying out a few more projects i feel they missed out on one main component that would enhance this kit. They should have included a polarity switch that allows the motor to spin in either direction (without having to manually swap the wires, as is required now). There are many projects that have limited motion in one direction (such as elevator, crane) and it would be nice to reverse the motor direction through a switch.
But still this is an awesome kit that sparks imagination.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
My 6-year old loves thisMay 19, 2011
By Hoover
I'd previously purchased the Physics Workshop for my son and, while I was very pleased with the sturdy pieces and fairly solid construction of the experiments, because of the vague directions and small photographs I was hesitant to try another Thames and Kosmos set. However, after searching for months for other sets that wouldn't break after 48 hours of use, and not able to find anything more sturdy and engaging, I decided to give Thames and Kosmos another try. I'm happy I did because my son has really enjoyed the Solar Workshop. The solar panel is a little weak but everything he has built has worked and, best of all, the instruction booklet is superior to the Physics Workshop; many step-by-step, larger instructional photos have made assembly possible without any adult assistance.
(However, the Air+Water Power set arrived today and my husband had to get out our magnifying glass in order to see some of the parts pictured in the tiny photos. I can't understand why the company cannot consistently create easy to follow instructional booklets.)
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Fun for adults too!May 04, 2011
By BroadTech
This kit is very well made. Parts are sturdy. After building some of the projects, we created some things of our own design. The instructions were clear.
Yes, the solar cell is too small for the load it has to drive. If this important to you, then just buy a larger solar cell. Try Edmund Scientific (lots of fun educational stuff here), Radio Shack or the internet.
I did bump it down to four stars due to the solar cell problem.
Everything else is well thought out. Although the solar cell does work if your project does not have a friction issue. It is under-sized for the load, and therefore it barely works.
The current Amazon price ($24.99) is very good. Worth the money.
See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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