Thames and Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop

by Thames & Kosmos

Product 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 Dimensions: 14.6 x 11.5 x 3.1 inches ; 2.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F6RWPU
• Item model number: 623715
• Our recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Batteries: 1 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,844 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #21 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Solar
  • #84 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Science > Physics
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Physics Solar Workshop: Solar Power Technology in Action. 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.

Product 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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Solar Cell and Motor is not powerful enough to run anything created, December 7, 2009

By 

Kabir - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

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.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A functional science toy, December 20, 2009

By 

G. LAMB - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 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 and Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop (Toy)

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 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star product, February 28, 2010

By 

Photon - See all my reviews

= 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 and Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop (Toy)

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.