Age Mark: 8+
Key Learning Values:
- Building and exploring renewable energy through real-life LEGO models
- Exploring energy supply, transfer, accumulation, conversion and consumption
- Engaging students in engineering and design
Brick Type: LEGO® System and LEGO® Technic
Piece Count: 12
This exciting add-on set allows students to learn about renewable energy sources and can be used with the Simple & Powered Machines Set (9686) and LEGO MINDSTORMS Education (9797).
The set includes a solar panel, turbine blades, a motor/generator, LED lights, an extension wire, a LEGO Energy Meter and full-colour building instructions for six real-life LEGO models to build with 9686. Add the Renewable Energy Activity Pack (2009688) for detailed lesson plans to cover solar, wind and hydro power.
Connected to the MINDSTORMS NXT brick, the energy meter works as a sensor and can be used for both programming and data logging. Activities and Building instructions for using 9688 with MINDSTORMS can be downloaded free of charge on this website.
The real interesting idea behind these solar panels is the solar cell that powers them. Solar cells are devices that are built entirely from solid material and in which the electrons or charge carriers are confined entirely inside the solid material.
ReplyDeleteHann, thank you for your comment. It is always good to hear from my readers. Do you post on the NXTLog?
ReplyDeleteYes, solar panels are very interesting. I enjoy learning about them, and that it part of the reason why it surprised me that I hadn't heard LEGO sold them before. And especially because they are Mindstorms compatible!