DID YOU KNOW …
This yellow racer, which was built
at Bochum University in Germany, is
called “SolarWorld No. 1.” At a race
held in Australia in 2007, it got a prize
for being the best-looking solar car in
the world!
Solar CAR | Solar Car
EXPERIMENT 1
Can your car drive forward
and backward?
YOU WILL NEED
› The assembled solar car
›
Energy source (sunlight, halogen energy-
saving bulb, battery)
HERE’S HOW
1. Run the car with the solar cell or the
battery, sliding the switch to the
appropriate setting.
2. In what direction does your car move?
3. Now remove the solar module from the
model along with the tires, and re-mount
it after rotating it 180 degrees.
4. Let the car run again. What happens
now?
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
The current from the solar cell or the
battery powers the motor inside the
module. Several gears transfer this
movement to the axles, and hence to
the wheels. The wheels start to turn
and your car drives forward. If you turn
the solar module around, the axles
turn in the opposite direction and your
car races in reverse.
TIP!
Try driving your car on dierent surfaces, such as a
hard, smooth floor and a carpet. If you’re testing your
car outside, you might try running it on a garden path,
balcony, or terrace. On what kind of surface does the
car drive best?
