EnviroGadget » educational

Batteryless ‘Light-Powered’ Radiometer

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:00:17 +0000

The Radiometer is a device that spins when it is placed in light. This device, invented back in 1873, still entertains adults and children today, as the vanes within the light bulb shaped dome spin. The spinning of the vanes gives the devices its other name, the light mill.

The Radiometer helps children to explore and learn about light and physics. The device is made from a light bulb shaped glass dome that is secured onto a plastic base. Within the dome there are 4 vanes which have been painted white on one side and black on the other. These vanes have been mounted onto a spindle which allows them to spin when in the presence of light. The speed that the vanes spin in is dependent on the intensity of the light, the greater the intensity the faster the vanes rotate.

There are a mixture of explanations of how radiometers work, often mentioning photons or infrared energy. Essentially the black side of the radiometer absorbs more energy than the reflective side, which causes the vanes to turn.

The device is supplied with an instruction booklet which also helps to explain the scientific principles that cause the device to work. The vanes can alternatively be turned by using heat near one side of the device, they can also be made to spin in the other direction by using ice to chill the glass, ideally in a darkened area. The radiometer is an entertaining scientific device that can show how movement can be generated from the tiny amounts of heat in light. Using no batteries, it can also make an eco-friendly ornament for any home or office.

This Radiometer is yours for $9.98 plus a small shipping fee.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Batteryless ‘Light-Powered’ Radiometer article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Mini Solar Racer – World’s Smallest Solar Powered Car

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:00:32 +0000

The Mini Solar Racer is a toy car which claims to be the world’s smallest solar powered car. The solar panel allows the car to move from eco-friendly solar energy when the car is placed either in sunlight or under a bright artificial light.

The Mini Solar Racer is a helpful toy to demonstrate both the abilities of solar power and the advancements in technology that allow a solar powered car to be made to such a significantly small size. The toy car measures an astonishing 3.3 cm x 2.2 cm x 1.4 cm (1.3 in x 0.87 in x 0.55 in) which does mean its not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts (up to and including itself!).

The Mini Solar Racer has a solar panel positioned on the top of it, this makes use of any light around, be it sunlight or bright artificial light and converts it into electrical energy. The electricity powers the motor within the toy, which turns the wheels, causing the car to move. The toy car can help to show the impact even small amounts of light can have, to help educate children about the abilities of eco-friendly energy it is best to demonstrate the car with sunlight.

The Mini Solar Racer is a fun toy car that will entertain both adults and children. The toy can be used as an educational aid as a child can witness the abilities of solar power and the remarkable size the technology for a toy car can be created in. The Solar Racer costs just £9.95.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Mini Solar Racer – World’s Smallest Solar Powered Car article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Enviro Battery Educational Kit By Green Science

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00:28 +0000

The Enviro Battery Kit contains all you need to create many different environmentally friendly batteries and other such eco-friendly items. The kit can help you turn many different household items into batteries allowing you to power items like a LED bulb or watch while explaining the science behind why these experiments work.

The Enviro Battery Educational Kit made by Green Science can be used as an educational tool to help teach children about environmentally friendly power sources, and the science behind creating electricity from chemical reactions. The kit includes the parts and full detailed instructions to allow you to create batteries from ordinary household items like fruit juices, vegetables, coins, and utensils. The kit also includes the parts to allow you to light an LED bulb, power a watch, and activate a music chip.

The Enviro Battery Kit includes 4 plates of both copper and zinc and connection wires for these, 2 specially designed bottle screw caps, a tower with a LED bulb on top, a sound chip, a LCD watch moment with protective cover and many other parts to help you create the experiments in the instructions. This educational kit is not suitable for children that are 3 or under due to the small parts, the kit is aimed for children aged 8 and up, though adult supervision is recommended.

The Enviro Battery Educational Kit is just $13.79 with free shipping.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Enviro Battery Educational Kit By Green Science article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Sunbender Build-It-Yourself Solar Battery Charger Kit

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:00:08 +0000

The Sunbender Build-It-Yourself Solar Battery Charger Kit allows you to construct your own solar powered charger for rechargeable batteries. The kit once constructed can charge two AA batteries at a time.

This build-it-yourself kit comes with all the pieces required for a working battery charger suitable for recharging both NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) and NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) rechargeable batteries. The charger will be able to charge the batteries at a rate of 50mAh. This means that for every 5 hours that you leave the charger charging in sunlight, your batteries would gain 250mAh of charge. The charger is designed to take two AA batteries at once. The charger may take a while to charge batteries of a large size from empty, it would be best to then use this to then top up batteries when they are not in use, for instance charging through the day while out camping, to be used in a torch at night.

The Sunbender Build-It-Yourself Solar Battery Charger can be used as an effective educational model to teach children about the benefits of solar power. The construction of the charger kit allows the child to engage with it, helping them to learn. Once made the charger allows you to be able to charge your batteries without the need for mains electricity.

The Sunbender Build-It-Yourself Solar Battery Charger kit costs just $19.95 plus shipping.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Sunbender Build-It-Yourself Solar Battery Charger Kit article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Solar-Powered Garden Insect Theatre

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:00:25 +0000

The Solar-Powered Garden Insect Theatre combines a solar-powered light with a sustainable insect habitat to attract insects into your garden and the insect theatre itself. During the day, the solar panel charges up the internal battery. At night, the theatre lights up, attracting a range of insects such as moths, lacewings and butterflies. When dawn comes along, the internal light automatically switches off, and the batteries are charged up again.

The insects are able to get into the insect theatre through the holes in the side, the louvres and around the edges of the wide door. This means that the insects are not trapped, and they can enter or exit at any time. You can insert branches, leaves and other plant material through the trapdoor at the base of the unit. To encourage insects into the unit, you just need to mount it in a warm, dry and slightly shady area.

The insect theatre is perfect for adults and children as a fascinating way to encourage insects into the garden. The insect theatre is made from sustainably grown timber, and treated with an environmentally safe wood preserving agent.

The outside dimensions of the box measures 205mm x 170mm x32mm, and prices start at around £29 (or $47 US).

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Solar-Powered Garden Insect Theatre article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Solar-Powered Speed Boat Eco Toy

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:34 +0000

Getting the kids interested in the environment with eco-friendly toys is a great idea. The Solar-Powered Speed Boat Kit will keep the children occupied for a few days at least, as the toy helps children to learn about solar energy and motors. The kit includes all the parts needed to construct a boat that powers itself along water using two large paddles.

If there’s no sunlight, or the kids want to play with the speed boat indoors, then you just chuck in 2xAA batteries. Then you can play with the boat in the bathtub.

The only thing to note is that you can’t have batteries and the solar panel connected at the same time, otherwise you damage the solar panel. Although the kit is designed for children aged 8 or above, you might need to ensure they don’t break the boat by using the batteries and solar panel at the same time.

The Solar-Powered Speed Boat Kit costs £9.99 from Maplin.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Solar-Powered Speed Boat Eco Toy article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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RobotiKits – Solar Powered Educational Kits for Kids

Dan (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:16 +0000

These RobotiKits are a collection of 3 mini robot kits designed for school grades 3 to 8, and possibly 9 to 12. These kits are very easy to assemble and demonstrate the principles of solar energy to children. Since the kits use solar energy, they require no batteries.

The kits consist of:

Super Solar Racing Car – based on 11 parts, the car rushes off when exposed to light.
Frightened Grasshopper – when light falls on it, the eyes jiggle, legs wiggle, and antennas sway to-and-fro. The grasshopper has 7 parts.
Happy Hopping Frog – the frog will start jumping as soon as light falls on it. The kit has a total of 26 parts and is more challenging to assemble.

Source: iGreenSpot

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the RobotiKits – Solar Powered Educational Kits for Kids article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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