Parts List
4 x long frames 2
1 x short frame 3
1 x short rod 4
2 x medium gear wheels 7
3 x small gear wheels 8
1 x small sprocket wheel 9
1 x medium sprocket 10
2 x long axle shafts 16
4 x tire wheels 15
1 x black cable 20
1 x engine shaft 19
1 x battery holder 22
1 x red cable 21
1 x solar engine 24
1 x solar module 23
8 x anchor pins 26
2 x shaft plugs 25
Your First Solar Vehicle
The solar tractor works with a gear drive. The small gear wheel on the
engine turns the rear axle.
Solar Tractor
Your new solar engine works particularly well for pow-
ering vehicles. The first one we will build is a tractor.
Experiment 10
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You will need: the parts from the parts list, artifi-
cial Sun
Instructions
Carefully study the tractor assembly instructions on
the following pages and follow them to assemble your
model. You will need all the parts in the list on the
left.
Be careful to connect the parts exactly as shown in the
pictures. It is particularly important to count the holes
in the rods and frames so you insert the anchor pins
in exactly the right ones. For the tractor to run well, all
the wheels have to be able to turn easily. After assem-
bling the axles and wheels, make sure that everything
has enough play (see page 5).
When you have finished assembling the tractor, hold
it under an artificial Sun, e.g. a desk lamp. Carefully
observe how the power of the engine is transmitted to
the other parts of your model.
Results
The small sprocket wheel mounted on the small en-
gine shaft drives the medium sprocket wheel on the
rear axle of the tractor. That turns the rear axle and
the large wheels attached to it. So the power of the
engine is transmitted through two sprocket wheels.
The teeth of both wheels are constructed so that they
mesh with each other precisely.
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