Renewable Energy Global solar power User manual

2
Solar CAR | The parts in your kit
1
5
11 13 1412
6 7 8
910
2 3 4
x 1
x 1
x 2
x 4
x 2 x 11 x 1
x 6 x 2 x 2
x 1 x 2 x 1
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
No.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Description
SOLAR MODULE with Motor
BODY PANEL, large
BODY PANEL, small
PROPELLER
3-HOLE ROD
5-HOLE DUAL-ROD
3-HOLE DUAL-ROD
Description
MOTOR SHAFT
MEDIUM AXLE
WHEEL
JOINT
ANCHOR PIN
ANCHOR PIN LEVER
STRING
Qty.
1
1
2
1
1
6
2
Qty.
2
2
4
2
11
1
1
Item No.
714002
714003
714004
714005
714120
714121
714122
Item No.
702801
703238
714006
714123
714124
702590
714240
Total 37
x 1
You will also need:
Source of energy (sunlight, 1 x 1.5-volt battery, type
AAA/LR03, or 1 x 1.2-volt rechargeable battery, min. 800
mAh/type AAA, light bulb (only halogen energy-saving
bulb, 42 W)), ruler, sheet of white letter-sized paper, pencil,
scissors, paper clip, chair
GOOD TO KNOW!
If you are missing any parts, please
contact Thames & Kosmos customer
service.
Any materials not included in the kit are
indicated in italic script under the “You will
need” heading.

3
Contents | Solar CAR
Safety information ................. inside front cover
Experiment to hit the ground running ........... 1
The parts in your kit .............................................. 2
Contents .................................................................... 3
Tips and Tricks ......................................... 4
MODELS AND EXPERIMENTS
Solar Car ................................................... 5
Experiment 1: Vroooooom... The solar cell
lets your car zoom across the floor in an
environmentally friendly way.
Solar Helicopter ................................... 9
Experiment 2: Whup whup whup… With the help of
the solar cell, your helicopter is ready for lifto.
Wind Maker .......................................................... 13
Experiment 3: Whooosh… Your solar cell can really
help you make a lot of wind.
Solar Jet .................................................................. 17
Experiment 4: Ready to take o? Your solar jet is
sure to get some attention.
Gyrocopter .............................................................. 21
Experiment 5: Whirrr… What is a gyrocopter, and
what does it have in common with maple
seeds?
Copyright page ............. inside back cover
TIP!
You will find additional
information here: “Check It Out”
Pages 25, 26, 27, and 28

7
Solar Car | Solar CAR
5.
4.
Completed

8
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 dierent 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?