Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop

by Thames & Kosmos

Product Features

• Kit includes more than 300 building pieces
• Build a windmill, two-speed crane, force scale, sail car, mars robot, hammer machine
• Experiment with simple machines: gears, levers, screws, inclined planes, pulleys, wheels and axles
• Learn and understand the most fundamental physics equations
• It is a 64-page, full-color experiment manual
• Centrifuge, pinball game, centrifugal switch, ship's lantern, and dozens of other models

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 3.1 x 14.6 inches ; 2.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002HABZU
• Item model number: 625412
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Batteries: 1 C batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,198 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #24 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Science > Physics
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Almost everyone has heard of a chemistry set. But until this kit was introduced, a physics set was almost unheard of. Physics is an essential science for everyone, and this kit provides a comprehensive explanation of mechanical physics. Through building 36 models and conducting subsequent experiments with the models, you will learn the fundamental laws of mechanical physics. Start by building small models, such as a fixed pulley, to learn about basic forces and simple machines. Then, work your way up to more complex machines, such as a pendulum clock, to learn more advanced concepts like work and centripetal force. This hands-on approach is both fun and effective because the principles of physics are demonstrated right in front of you.

Product Description

Build 36 models of real-world machines and conduct 37 unique experiments with the models. Learn the fundamental laws of mechanical physics. This hands-on approach is both fun and effective, and vividly demonstrates the principles of physics. Kit includes a 64-page full-color book with assembly and experiment instructions. Requires 1 "C" battery (not included).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent teaching kit, April 15, 2009

By 

K. Gill "jamesmum" (Milpitas, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop (Toy)

I bought this kit to support a home-based learning program for a fifth-grade boy (11 years old). It is EXACTLY what I was looking for - there's the fun of building the labs, then the fun of trying the experiments. The included documentation is very good, as it describes not only how to build the equipment, but also how to conduct the experiments, and it also discusses the related scientific concepts. I'd suggest that parents/educators read through everything ahead of time if they plan to use this kit as a teaching tool, to become familiar with the flow of the material. You can easily jump around between topics within the book, as the labs generally do not depend on each other (with the exception of force scale).
The suggested age range for this kit is 8 - 12, but I'd be inclined to increase the upper limit, as some of the concepts are clearly in middle school territory.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting tired of Legos? Try this., February 16, 2008

By 

Kris K. Killinger (Commerce Township, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop (Toy)

My son is always tinkering, building contraptions, etc. We could tell that the Legos were getting "old" for him, so we bought this. He really likes it, and is always building stuff like cranes, windmills, etc. Everything in the set is sturdy, with quality similar to Lego, but with more gears and pulleys.

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the classroom enviornment, July 12, 2010

By 

Louie (NY) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop (Toy)

To start, I'm an assistant teacher who has been given the task of implementing a small "club" where kids can use their hands and learn about basic physics concepts, mechanics, and other knowledge they might acquire through the experience. Right, I'm not a certified teacher, but do have a minor background in mechanics as an amateur bicycle mechanic. I've also taken college level physics classes.

This set is nice. The pieces are durable and easily identifiable. But this kit is lacking in so many other areas.

First, the instructions are poor. There are pictures, but no explanation how to get from one step to another. Sometimes, the manual just shows you the completed mechanism, and you're expected to fabricate it on your own. I bought a few of these kits in order to have about 3 kids per kit in a group of about 15 kids. I ended up running around the room having to explain the same thing or show how to build the structure over and over again.

Second, for a kit, I was expecting all materials to be provided. Not the tools like scissors or a tape measure, but the other "common house hold items". In the first few experiments, you need string. I understand having to provide your own potato and paperclips, but how hard is it to provide a spool of twine?

Third, the "experiments" and "workshops" seem to be haphazardly thrown around amongst the reading. Granted, the reading has a good amount of information, but there's no way to transition when you're running a class. What would be helpful would be some form of lesson plan. Maybe, one or two experiments per concept, and each concept clearly separated from the others, maybe by page. There's also no questions or worksheets to stop and ask the kids what they've learned. There's no way to measure how much they've learned.

This kit is not at all a bad kit. It's very educational and actually fun for the kids. They start to look at the world in a different light and start to understand why things happen. It's a fantastic kid for a 1-on-1 environment, like a parent and child set up. If you're planning on buying it for a larger group, maybe you want to sit down with it well in advanced and go through the book and the experiments so you have a firm grasp on how to set up and implement lessons.