Thames & Kosmos Physics Discovery

by Thames & Kosmos

Product Features

• Build a motor, force meter, catapult, balance scale, freight elevator, inclined planes and more
• Build a bicycle, transmission, motion picture machine, water wheel, and more
• Learn about simple machines and forces
• Test yourself with a physics quiz
• New Edition to an original best selling series

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 8.9 x 2.6 inches ; 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F5YYK2
• Item model number: 626914
• Our recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,192 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Physics Discovery: Introduction to Mechanical Physics. With Physics discovery, you will build 12 models and then conduct experiments with the models to learn about forces and simple machines. Each model demonstrates a fundamental idea in mechanical physics. For example, you can build a balance scale to learn about lever arms, a freight elevator to learn about pulleys, a bicycle to learn about wheels, a motion picture machine to learn about centripetal and centrifugal forces, and a transmission to learn about gears. Physics Discovery is a smaller, introductory companion to our best-selling Physics Workshop kit. It contains different building projects and experiments, and uses parts that are compatible with all of the kits in our Physics line. The 32-page book offers illustrated instructions for building projects and experiments.

Product Description

Gears, Wheels, Pulleys, Levers, Centripetal Forces & More! Build 12 fantastic models & conduct experiments you'll remember! A science kit to teach you all about forces and simple machines. Each model demonstrates a fundamental idea in mechanical physics. For example, you can build a balanced scale to learn about lever arms, a freight elevator to learn about pulleys, a bicycle to learn about wheels, a motion picture machine to learn about centripetal and centrifugal forces, and a transmission to learn about gears. Physics Discovery is a smaller, introductory companion to Physics Workshop kit. It has different building projects and experiments, but parts that are compatible with those in the Physics Workshop and Physics Solar Workshop.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice parts - dreadful instructions, February 25, 2008

By 

John W. Mycroft (Asheville, NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

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

The parts in the box make this set look like it would be fun if you could figure out what the instructions mean. The book that comes with the set is written in English and yet the instructions consists solely of microscopic pictures that lack essential information such as how to attach the elastic string to whatever you are supposed to attach it to. So far, two of us have managed to make only one of the described projects work despite a couple of very frustrating hours with the instructions and a magnifying glass.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great concept poor instructions, November 3, 2009

By 

B. Swanson "Physics Mama" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

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

I have a degree in physics and I struggled kelping my kids with this kit. It's a great kit from a physics education standpoint BUT there are some ridiculous inconsistencies. Most of the parts are durable plastic, but then there are some paper parts that are impossible to assemble as directed. The paper propeller required for the first experiment? Forget it. Instructions are poor for a design that will not work. I tossed that and adopted a plastic propeller from our K'NEX kit. Not optimal, but better than that stupid paper one. The instructions for the machine assembly are minimal at best. If you buy this kit, be prepared to wing it. And assemble it ahead of time so you know how to do it before you work with the kids.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time with this kit, March 23, 2009

A Kid's Review

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

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

I find that this so called "physics" kit is nothing more than a bunch of rip-off pieces that look exactly like over-sized legos, with ridiculously small instructions. I had to do some of the experiments in this as a grade in school, and as a twelve year old who has played with legos all my life, I still had trouble building these projects. To say that it is challenging is a huge understatement-I spent 3 hours on the wind-up car pictured on the cover, yet it still didn't work. The majority of this time was spent trying to interpret the directions (which were as helpful as having none). I could have probably built the car better if I had built it according to the picture. And to top it off, it had a pitiful two paragraphs on potential energy, which barely even skimmed the surface. ANYONE could have told you the information stated in the booklet. My advice: If you're looking for a kit for your child that is educational and fun, this is not it.